Shirley Mae McNally
1935-2025
On Friday, March 7, 2025, Shirley Mae McNally died peacefully at Valley Regional Hospital surrounded by her family. She is survived by her children Heather McNally (Trevor), Wanda Campbell (Ian), and John McNally (Catherine); grandchildren: Piper (Christian), Tilly, Esme, Rachel, Nathan (Grace), and Samuel; and four great grandchildren. She was predeceased by her husband Hugh McNally, her brothers David (Ruth) and Peter (Carolyn), and her sister Judie Preston (Tom).
Shirley was born on February 22, 1935 in Dundas, Ontario to Mildred Louise Hawthorne. She was adopted as an infant by Harry and Mabel Frid who moved to Barrie, Ontario when she was six. The first in her family to attend university, she graduated in 1957 with a Bachelor of Arts in History from the University of Toronto. Here she met Hugh McNally from Prince William, New Brunswick and they were married in 1958.
Shirley and Hugh were commissioned as missionaries with the Canadian Baptist Overseas Mission Board in 1960. They became fluent in Telegu and served together in Andhra Pradesh, South India for fourteen years. From 1974 to 2000, Shirley supported Hugh as he served as the Senior Pastor of Riverview Baptist in New Brunswick, Grace Memorial Baptist in Fredericton, and Bridgewater Baptist in Nova Scotia. Shirley taught Sunday School, offered hospitality, spoke in numerous settings, and contributed in various ways behind the scenes, until she and Hugh retired to the Annapolis Valley. For many years, she was a leader within local Baptist Women’s Missionary Societies, and wrote 120 columns for Tidings, the magazine of Atlantic Baptist Women. She was also an inspiration to other breast cancer survivors.
The family extends heartfelt thanks to everyone who supported Shirley while she lived at Evergreen Nursing Home and to the medical staff at Valley Regional Hospital in Kentville, Nova Scotia. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Rev. Dr. Hugh and Shirley McNally Bursary to support women studying at Acadia Divinity College for vocational pastoral ministry or global mission (please indicate this bursary: https://acadiadiv.ca/give/where-to-give/all-funds/) or Canadian Baptist Ministries (https://www.cbmin.org/donate-2/). A funeral service followed by a reception will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, March 15, 2025 at Wolfville Baptist Church with livestream available. The funeral will be preceded by a visitation at 10 a.m. at the church. Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to the White Family Funeral Home and Cremation Services.