Shirley Jean Elizabeth Rose Milam, 86, of Fayetteville, passed away into the arms of her Lord and Savior on Tuesday, December 20th, 2022, after a short illness, with a large number of her family members by her side.

Shirley was born on March 31st, 1936, in the mining town of Firecreek, WV. She was the oldest child born into the family of Gertrude Henderson Rose and Payne Rose. She had a sister, Juanita, and a brother Robert. The family lived in several areas of Fayette and Raleigh counties and eventually settled into a house on Nickleville Road in Fayetteville. She graduated from Fayetteville High School in 1953.

It was while living on Nickleville that Shirley met Alfred Wayne Milam, who lived two doors down the road from her house. The two started dating and fell in love. After Wayne's return from the Korean War, the pair became husband and wife on November 16th, 1954, and remained so until her death, 68 years and 1 month later.

She worked in a variety of jobs including dry-cleaning, store clerk, but the job she loved the most of all was as a babysitter. There are a large number of now middle-aged and young adults whom she helped raise into their teens.

Shirley was preceded in death by her parents, her brother Robert Rose, her in-laws Dennis and Ethel Milam, her brothers in-law Fred, Donald, and Galen Milam, and her sisters in-law Deloris and Shirley Lou Milam. She is survived by her life-long love Alfred Wayne Milam, her sons Roy Wayne Milam (Dianne) of Hico, Dennis Payne Milam (Cathy) of Fayetteville, Ronald Blane Milam (Helen) of Fayetteville, and her daughter Susan Jane Criss (Jim) of Victor. She is also survived by her eleven grandchildren Michael Milam (Jessie) of Fayetteville, Roni Marie Fair (Bill) of Fayetteville, Joey Milam (Holly) of Summersville, Anthony Milam (Kirby) of Charleston, Eric Milam (Crystal) of Oak Hill, Shane Milam (Lyndsey) of Oak Hill, Nora Milam of Fayetteville, Maria Criss (Auston) of Oak Hill, Brandie Criss of Beckley, James Criss (Kailyn) of Fayetteville and Sam Criss of Victor. She is also survived by 19 great-grandchildren.

Services will be held at Dodd-Payne-Hess Funeral Home on Tuesday, December 27th, 2022, at 2pm with Reverend Danny Goins officiating. Family will receive friends one hour prior. Burial will follow at Huse Memorial Park.

Grandsons will serve as pallbearers.

Many thanks to Hospice of Southern West Virginia for their help to the family.

Online condolences may be expressed by visiting our website at www.doddpaynehessfuneralhome.com