Shirley Dean Upton, 87, of Minford, passed away Tuesday, May 12, 2026 at Rosemount Pavilion in Portsmouth. She was born July 15, 1938 in Paintsville, Kentucky, a daughter of the late Guy Bandy and Clara (Howard) VanHoose, she was an artist, and attended Porter Free Will Baptist Church. Along with her late husband, Shirley was a member of the Gospelites and traveled with Jim & Delores Benner across four states doing revivals. The Gospelites made three albums.
She is survived by two sons; John (Celinne) Burke and Jeffrey (Pamela) Burke; six grandchildren, Joey Burke, Matthew Burke, Hannah (Caleb) Lucas, Kristin (Zacheriah) Vanderpool, Joshua (Andrea) Burke, Jared (Amber) Burke; six great grandchildren, Juliette Burke, Emma Burke, Benjamin Burke, Wade Vanderpool, Simon Vanderpool, Aubrey Vanderpool, and one great-great granddaughter, Barbara Nina. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husbands, John D. Burke, Denzel Upton; three sisters, Nola Richard, Opal Morris, and Joy Flint.
A memorial service will be conducted at 10:00 a.m. Saturday, May 16, 2026 at Erwin-Dodson-Allen Funeral Home in Minford with Pastor Mark Price officiating. Friends may call at the funeral home from 9:00 to 10:00 a.m. prior to the service. Online condolences may be sent to www.edafh.com.
