Beloved Tuscaloosa Mental Health Advocate Betty Shirley Dead At 95

TUSCALOOSA, AL — The Tuscaloosa and University of Alabama communities are mourning the loss of beloved mental health advocate Betty Bailey Shirley, who died Thursday at the age of 95.

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Shirley was born in Montgomery and went on to graduate from the University of Alabama, before dedicating her life to service and addressing mental health at the community level — a field that would evolve by leaps and bounds locally, thanks in large part to her efforts.

It was widely publicized that Shirley found a heart for service because of her late grandson, Walt Gary, and would go on to advocate for children with disabilities, especially through the the RISE Center and UA CrossingPoints Program.

Indeed, Shirley was credited with helping move RISE from an older facility to the Stallings Center, which prompted the program to raise more than $3 million in her honor for an endowment fund known as the “Betty Shirley Tree of Life.”

Shirley was also a lifetime member of the board of directors of the Mental Health Association of Tuscaloosa County and served as a member of the DCH Foundation Ball when its proceeds were used for a psychiatric unit at DCH Regional Medical Center.

“I believe that diseases of behavior will dominate the 21st century, whether these be depressive and anxiety disorders, an explosion of causes and manifestations of post-traumatic stress disorder, life-style behavior problems such as obesity and substance abuse, or a general increase in stress and violence,” Shirley said in 2002. “As teachers who focus on primary care physicians, rather than on specialists in psychiatry, we have an important opportunity to bring a high level of expertise into general medical practice where the vast majority of mental health problems are initially treated."

Her work was so impactful, in fact, that the psychiatry clinic at The University of Alabama’s Capstone Medical Center was named the Betty Shirley Clinic for Psychiatry and Behavioral Medicine in 2002.

What's more, she was also appointed by President George H. W. Bush in 1991 as one of his "One-Thousand Points of Light" — a distinction given to citizens working to better their communities through volunteer work.

"Betty’s light continues to shine through her legacy of remarkable love, service, advocacy and faith," her obituary reads. "She will always be remembered for her beautiful, caring and giving heart."

A visitation will be held on April 11 from noon to 2 p.m. in Randall Hall, which will be followed by a memorial service at Christ Episcopal Church on Tuesday at 2 p.m.

A private family burial for Shirley will then be held at Tuscaloosa Memorial Park and officiated by Rev. Paul Pradat.

In lieu of flowers, Shirley's family requests that memorials be sent to The University of Alabama Walt Gary Scholarship in Special Education, Box 870101, Tuscaloosa, AL 35487; Christ Episcopal Church, 605 Lurleen B. Wallace N. Blvd., Tuscaloosa, AL 35401; Hospice of West Alabama, 3851 Loop Rd., Tuscaloosa, AL 35404; or any other charity.

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