Shirley was the surviving spouse of Reverend William Kyle.
Shirley Stevens Kyle, 90, died Dec. 20, 2025 at her home in Williamsburg Virginia with her eldest son by her side. She was a devoted wife and Mother who loved Christ and in turn was loved by all who met her.
Shirley is survived by her sons, William Reid Kyle III of Williamsburg, and Christopher Stevens Kyle and his wife, Mari of Harrisonburg; grandchildren, Joseph, Olivia, Abigail and Jonathan.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Neal Gerald Stevens and Laura Ellen Stevens, husband, Rev. William Reid Kyle Jr., her grandchildren, Elizabeth Stevens Kyle and William Christopher Kyle.
Shirley leaves behind many dear friends from the churches across Virginia her husband served and her Piney Creek Estates neighborhood.
Shirley was born in Ashland Virginia where she helped care for the family farm and sang in the church choir for Ashland Presbyterian Church. Shirley played the lead role in the historical movie, Pocahontas, written and directed by S. Howe Williams in 1951 with the assistance of the British Museum, The National Park Service, Virginia State Library, Mariner’s Museum and The Association for the Preservation of Virginia Antiquities including the Mattaponi Indians, The order of the Arrow. Shirley graduated from Henry Clay High School in 1952 with a love for music and attended Richmond Polytech Institute in Richmond Virginia to continue her studies in music and further her vocal training as a first soprano. Shirley worked for C&P Telephone in Richmond where she developed rewarding friendships and sold many of the strawberries grown on the family farm. In 1969, Shirley commenced her journey in the United Methodist Church with her husband to his appointments starting at St. Paul/ Mt. Vernon in Ruther Glen and later following to Reveille in Richmond, Warwick Memorial in Newport News, Windsor Hills in Roanoke, Peakland in Lynchburg, Wesley in Vienna, Thalia in Virginia Beach and Front Royal in Winchester where she often participated as the lead soprano vocalist of the choir and sang in many weddings and funerals with her touching voice. Attendees of the many Christmas Eve services were deeply touched by her performance of O Holy Night which held deep emotion. Following the retirement of her husband, Rev. Bill Kyle Jr., in 1999 from active ministry, Shirley continued to support the Congregational Care Ministry for First United Methodist Church in Hampton Virginia with her husband. Following the passing of Bill in 2010, Shirley continued active participation in the music ministry of Williamsburg United Methodist Church and always enjoyed singing in Handel’s Messiah under direction of Lou-Anne Smith.
Memorial service will be held on January 4th at 2 p.m. at Williamsburg United Methodist Church with the Reverend Madison Allinger and Brian Johnson presiding.
Memorials may be in the form of donations to the Memorial Fund of Williamsburg United Methodist Church, 500 Jamestown Road Williamsburg, VA 23185, or to the A. Purnell Bailey Pre-Ministerial Program, Office of Development, Randolph-Macon College, P.O. Box 5005, Ashland, VA 23005.
The family wishes to express their sincere thanks to Dr. Patricia Marcuson of TPMG Internal Medicine for her many decades of dedicated care, Dr. Michael Potter of TPMG Orthopedic Medicine, Dr. Shannon McDonnell of Sentara Hospital Emergency Care, Comfort Keepers In Home Care, Amedisys Home Health Care, Amedisys Hospice Care and Comber Physical Therapy. Due to the care and dedication of these gifted members, Shirley lived a fulfilling and functional life remaining in her home until her passing.
(John 11:25-26) “Jesus said unto her, ‘I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this?’”
(Source: https://www.bucktroutfuneralhome.net/obituaries/Shirley-Stevens-Kyle?obId=46758912)