BLACKSHEAR — Mary Lee Wiley Shaw, born in Hilliard, Fla., on June 10, 1939 to Ruby and Elton Dowling, lived a life full of love, laughter, and faith until the Lord called her home on Thursday, October 16, 2025 at Satilla Bluffs.
From the start, Ms. Shaw made everyone feel special and included. She loved her family above all else and found great joy
in being a wife, mother, grandmother, greatgrandmother, sister, aunt, cousin and friend. She married Gene Wiley, and tog ether they built a family, raising three children — Nick, Kitty, and Zena. She was lucky to find love again, years after the passing of Gene, when she met and married James Shaw. Their time together was short but very sweet. Her nieces and nephews, her children’s friends, neighbors, and coworkers all became “hers.” She opened her arms and her kitchen to anyone who needed a place to belong.
Ms. Shaw had a long and accomplished career at the Ware County Water Department, where she was respected for her dedication and diligence. But more than her work, it was her sense of humor that people remembered most. She never took herself too seriously and had a special gift for finding joy in ordinary moments. Whether it was through a quick-witted comment, a funny story, or her playful teasing, Mary Lee made others laugh and reminded them to always have fun.
At home, her love was shown most often through her cooking. She was famous for remembering everyone’s favorite meal or treat and making sure it appeared on the table. Hosting family gatherings was her happy place—she thrived when her house was full, plates were overflowing, and laughter echoed through the rooms.
Ms. Shaw’s life was also a true reflection of her faith. She embodied the fruits of the Spirit in ways that could be seen and felt by those around her.
Love – she never let anyone leave her presence without knowing they were loved. Joy – her laughter was contagious, a reminder that joy can be found in every season of life. Peace – she carried a calm assurance, trusting God in both the easy and the difficult times. Patience – she was gentle and understanding, always willing to listen and wait with grace. Kindness – she delighted in small acts of care, whether cooking a meal or sending someone home with leftovers. Goodness – her life was marked by integrity and generosity, doing right simply because it was right. Faithfulness – she stood firm in her commitments to her family and to her Lord, never wavering in her devotion. Gentleness – she spoke with tenderness and treated everyone with dignity and respect. Self-control – she lived with balance and humility, always putting others before herself.
Her life was evidence of God’s work in her, and of all these virtues, the greatest, being love. Love for her family, love for her friends, and love for every person who became family along the way.
In addition to her parents, she was also preceded in death by two siblings; Ray Dowling (Betty) and Phillip Dowling; and a sister-in-law, Carol Dowling.
Ms. Shaw is survived by her children, Nick Wiley (Evelyn), Kitty Cheatham (David), and Zena Tyler (Matt); her son-in-law Tony Collins (Brandi); her grandchildren, Nicki Korman (Jon), Emma Collins, Erin DiPrima (Zack), Grayson Tyler, Duncan Wiley (Harleigh), Brooks Wiley, and Zane Tyler; her great grandchildren, Joey Korman, Collins Korman, Ezra DiPrima, Ada DiPrima, Cora DiPrima, Luke Wiley, Charlotte Wiley, Max DiPrima, and Mary DiPrima; her brothers, Russell Dowling (Ruby), Stanley Dowling, and Michael Dowling. They will carry her legacy of love, laughter, and faith for generations to come.
A funeral service was held Monday, October 20 at Hoboken Baptist Church. Burial followed in Greenlawn Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers the family asks that memorial donations be made to the Christmas Staff Bonus at Satilla Bluffs Senior Care, 101 Satilla Bluffs Drive Blackshear, 31516.
Ms. Shaw leaves behind a life well-lived — a life that taught us to love deeply, laugh often, and welcome everyone to the table. Her legacy will continue in every shared meal, every joyful laugh, and every moment of kindness we pass on in her honor.
Music Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.
