October 2, 2026
CEDARTOWN, Ga. - Shirley Irene Jackson Randall, age 85, joined her husband in heaven on Tuesday, June 10, 2025. She passed away peacefully at home surrounded by her loving family. She was married to the late Dr. Maurice Lee Randall, and they served together as missionaries with the International Mission Board in Zimbabwe, Africa, for thirty years (1971-2001).
I remember Maurice and Shirley from my days at Mercer University in the early 1960s. They were dating then, but there was something about them that indicated that the hand of God was upon them and that they were destined to do great things for Christ. As I recall, they were married shortly after their graduation in 1961, and soon thereafter, Randall enrolled at the Medical College of Georgia in Augusta to become a physician and subsequently graduated in 1965.
Shirley was born in Seattle, Washington, on June 19, 1939. She is the daughter of Paul and Irene Jackson. Paul was a faithful associational missionary, and Irene was an outstanding missionary wife and Woman’s Missionary Union leader in Georgia.
Dr. J. Robert White, former Executive Director of the Georgia Baptist Mission Board, stated, “Maurice and Shirley have been the epitome of excellence as Southern Baptist missionaries. I have heard many missionary speakers during my life, but none ever touched me more than Shirley. I have been deeply moved by the story of her call into missions and the beautiful expression of her faithfulness through many years of missionary service.”
Mark Randall, MD, remembers his father in an article in “Magazines” by explaining, “After his internship in Macon, Uncle Sam made him an offer he couldn’t refuse. For the next three years, (Dad) was on the orthopedics ward of 106 General Hospital in Tokyo, operating on hundreds of wounded soldiers. After a year and a half of surgery residency in Chattanooga, he finally was able to answer God’s call to medical missions and went with my mother and their four children to Sanyati Baptist Hospital in Rhodesia (Zimbabwe).
“This 100-bed hospital, on a mission station two hours by dirt road from the nearest town, served the many needs of the Shona people in the northwest part of the country. Maurice worked with two other doctors, making rounds and operating in the morning and seeing about 200 patients in the afternoon.”
Dr. and Mrs. Randall served for 30 years in the bush country of Africa, without the conveniences that we are all accustomed to, with no town nearby, surrounded by people who came to deeply love the caring hearts of these two wonderful Southern Baptist missionaries.
Shirley, a Magno Cum Laude graduate at Mercer University with her degree in Elementary Education, was well prepared to teach children and youth. She was a Sunday School teacher, a Vacation Bible School coordinator, a Missions Friends teacher, Woman’s Missionary Union leader, taught Bible classes at Sanyati Baptist Secondary school and homeschooled her four children.
Shirley’s mission in life was to share the gospel and to love people into the Kingdom of God. Her infectious smile, radiant joy, and vivacious personality drew people to her. She was a gifted communicator and loved sharing about how she had seen God’s love at work in her life and others.
She was a loving wife, a wonderful mother, an encouraging friend, a wise mentor, and a happy, loving grandmother and great-grandmother. She served faithfully during difficult days in the country of Zimbabwe, and the people there held a special place in her heart.
Family was always important to Shirley, and she delighted in being “Gogo” to her grandchildren and great grands. She leaves behind her four children and their families: Dr Mark and Tina Westerfield Randall of Winfield, Alabama, Donny and Sharon Randall Duvall of Cusseta, Alabama, Sheila Randall Harkins of Bangkok, Thailand, and Dr. Hunter and Susie Randall Hansen of Auburn, Alabama.
She is survived by twelve grandchildren and fourteen great-grandchildren: Miles and Matt Randall, Drew (Beka) Duvall and Colette and Graham, Josh (Becky) Duvall and Justus, Jane, Jedidiah and Jethro, Bethany Duvall, Maurissa (Nate) Edwards and Culver, Shaina (Will) Gill and Kinsley and Oliver, Isaac (Hattie) Harkins and Ezra, Luna and Clementine, John Piersol and Joseph Harkins, Luke, JP, Rayne and David Hansen.
She is survived by her sister Marjorie Barr (Fred) of Rome, Georgia and brothers David Jackson and Daniel Jackson (Carol) of Carrollton, Georgia and sister-in-law, Carole Randall of Blairsville, Georgia. Shirley leaves behind beloved nieces, nephews, cousins, and many dear friends around the world.
Shirley is preceded in death by her husband, Maurice Lee Randall, and parents Paul and Irene Jackson of Cedartown, Georgia and grandson Philip Kevin Harkins of Hueytown, Alabama.
The family respectfully request that in place of flowers, donations can be made to any of the following ministries that were important to Shirley:
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