ForeverMissed
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Shirley Sundgren Braswell was born September 6, 1941 in Minneapolis, Minnesota and passed away on September 16, 2020 in Hoover, Alabama. Shirley was the daughter of Delver and Evelyn (Hansen) Sundgren. Shirley was the mother of “one perfect child” (Shirley’s words) Wynn Braswell Glass. She was the grandmother to Andrew Charles Glass (Amy Wilson), Evelyn Rachel Glass (Tony Canterberry) and Mary Elizabeth Glass (Mason Holt).  

Shirley worked as a buyer for the Jefferson County Purchasing Department until she retired. Shirley always joked her role as a buyer was “selling drugs and dealing in stolen property”. 

After her retirement, Shirley took pride in caring for her grandchildren. She made sure she attended any and all band and sporting activities that her grandchildren participated in. Distance was never a consideration when it came to being supportive of their endeavors.

Shirley was member of Shades Mountain Bible Church where she taught Awana and developed life long friendships. 

She was an active member at Shades Crest Baptist Church where she donated her time and her car to be used by anyone who needed a ride for any reason. 

Shirley was a fashion trend setter by having colorful eyeglasses that went with any outfit! Being colorful didn’t stop at her clothing. She was a very talented water color artist as well. Her quick wit with one liners could make you laugh until you cried. 

We are forever grateful for being allowed the privilege of basking in her light.

Celebration of Life services will be held on Monday September 21st at Shades Crest Baptist Church  452 Park Ave

Hoover, Al 35226 Visitation 10:00 a.m. with service to follow at 11:00a.m.  

In lieu of flowers the family has asked for donations to be directed to Shades Crest Baptist Church - missions. Shadescrest.org/give

Tributes

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Carole Coulter
October 9, 2020
October 9, 2020
Shirley was one of those wonderful people who make a group better just by being in it! Her quick wit, her warm caring manner, and her Godly perspective on things made you want to know her better and spend more time with her. She was a Christian and she acted like a Christian. Her kindness was directed toward all and her love of the Lord was contagious. Carole and I will always remember her warm welcome to us when we began attending the Shades Mountain Bible church and that warm welcome extended all the way to great fellowship with Shirley at our life group's annual reunions. We love you Wynn, Andrew, Evelyn and Mary Elizabeth. Skip and Carole Coulter
Wynn Glass
September 20, 2020
September 20, 2020
Majesty, worship His majesty! Unto Jesus be all glory and praise! There will ever be enough time or words to put the life of Shirley in a book! She was a child of God, fiercely independent , loyal to a fault, wiser than many, defender of her friends 
and family and champion of the art of forgiving and forgetting. I can’t even comprehend how she loved me so unconditionally but still managed to teach me so much. She is irreplaceable and I can only hope I live up to be a small speck in her shadow! I love you momma and thank you for choosing ME to be your daughter!
Chris Sundgren
September 19, 2020
September 19, 2020
As mentioned above, distance never stopped Shirley from going where she needed to be. She was in Seattle for the birth of her great nephew, Jackson in Seattle and the care and subsequent memorial for her other great nephew Hudson in Cumming, GA. Heck, Shirley even came to see me play my very first "old guy" lacrosse game where I got hit the helmet with the ball (rather than catching it). Shirley was such a wonderful aunt and I think the glue that held the Sundgren family together over the years. I will dearly miss her and her stories and her signature sign off "LUTP". I do Love You to Pieces, Aunt Shirley and I sure hope you show your brothers who's boss now that you're whole again and one with your family!
Lindsay Faubion
September 18, 2020
September 18, 2020
My first memory of Shirley was when I was in Birmingham for Big Daddy’s funeral. You stayed with all of us youngins at Big Mamas house while all of the adults attended the service. I remember playing Mother May I?, Hopscotch and Duck, Duck Goose. You were so much fun to play with because it’s been over 35 years since that day and it’s a fond childhood memory that has stuck with me. Thank you for that.

Dana Shamburger
September 18, 2020
September 18, 2020
Shirley has been a part of my life since the 70s. As, Judy said, I was a part of that SMBC Village. In fact, Shirley was my second mom, since she and my mom were so close. One of my favorite memories of just Shirley and me was going to a couple of Birmingham Stallions games. I venture to say she has always been passionate about her sports teams.
She was my wedding director in 1979, and did a beautiful job, as did the other church moms. What excellent role models of godly women they all were. Shirley was also the host of my first baby shower and wrote the most hilarious skit about my baby being named Spamburger or Hamburger Shamburger. Wow, could she make you laugh til you had tears running down your face holding your side from laughing so hard.
My most recent fun and special time with her was going to Deerfoot for Greater Vision’s Hymn Sing. I got to sit next to her and sing and praise our Savior with her.
I look forward to the day we all can lift our voices in praise together again. Only the next time will be in the presence of God! Missed here on earth but Promoted to Glory, Christ in you...the hope of glory. 1John 2:28
Jennifer Sherrod
September 18, 2020
September 18, 2020
There are no words to express how deeply I loved and will miss my friend, Shirley. She was always there to support me and laugh with me. The memories are too many and too great to list but they will comfort me every time I think of the years we worked and played together. Shirley was quick to freely share her faith and love of God. Rest easy, my friend. I will see you again.

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Carole Coulter
October 9, 2020
October 9, 2020
Shirley was one of those wonderful people who make a group better just by being in it! Her quick wit, her warm caring manner, and her Godly perspective on things made you want to know her better and spend more time with her. She was a Christian and she acted like a Christian. Her kindness was directed toward all and her love of the Lord was contagious. Carole and I will always remember her warm welcome to us when we began attending the Shades Mountain Bible church and that warm welcome extended all the way to great fellowship with Shirley at our life group's annual reunions. We love you Wynn, Andrew, Evelyn and Mary Elizabeth. Skip and Carole Coulter
Wynn Glass
September 20, 2020
September 20, 2020
Majesty, worship His majesty! Unto Jesus be all glory and praise! There will ever be enough time or words to put the life of Shirley in a book! She was a child of God, fiercely independent , loyal to a fault, wiser than many, defender of her friends 
and family and champion of the art of forgiving and forgetting. I can’t even comprehend how she loved me so unconditionally but still managed to teach me so much. She is irreplaceable and I can only hope I live up to be a small speck in her shadow! I love you momma and thank you for choosing ME to be your daughter!
Chris Sundgren
September 19, 2020
September 19, 2020
As mentioned above, distance never stopped Shirley from going where she needed to be. She was in Seattle for the birth of her great nephew, Jackson in Seattle and the care and subsequent memorial for her other great nephew Hudson in Cumming, GA. Heck, Shirley even came to see me play my very first "old guy" lacrosse game where I got hit the helmet with the ball (rather than catching it). Shirley was such a wonderful aunt and I think the glue that held the Sundgren family together over the years. I will dearly miss her and her stories and her signature sign off "LUTP". I do Love You to Pieces, Aunt Shirley and I sure hope you show your brothers who's boss now that you're whole again and one with your family!
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So many memories!!

September 18, 2020
by Judy Bridgewater
Shirley will be missed by so many and I am one of them.  She was one of the "village" that raised me during those wonderful days of Shades Mountain Bible Church.  One of my fav stories is her "teaching" me how to drive a stick shift in the church parking lot.  She showed me a couple of times and then got out of the car and told me to practice.  I got to the bottom of the parking lot and could NOT get drive it back, no matter how hard I tried.  We laughed about that for years and she even talked about it the last time I saw her last year.  

She was always an encourager and support her, always had a hug for me and her smile and laugh could light up a life or a room.  Thank you, Wynn, for sharing her with me and ALL the others!  ❤❤

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