Cora Beal Shields

Coleman Funeral Home of Oxford “…her children rise up and call her blessed…”Proverbs 31.28 Cora Beal Hardison Shields, age 98, passed away at her home on December 20, 2023, surrounded by children and grandchildren. Visitation will be Saturday December 23, 2023, from 11:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., at Oxford Church of Christ. A funeral service will immediately follow at 12:30 p.m., at Oxford Church of Christ. Interment will be at the Oxford Memorial Cemetery. Coleman Funeral Home of Oxford is in charge of arrangements. Cora Beal was born on July 24, 1925 on a dairy farm in Carters Creek, Tennessee. Her paternal grandfather was the attending physician. She graduated from David Lipscomb College and Peabody College. In 1948, she married Doug Shields, Sr. and after working briefly as a teacher, she embarked on a great venture with him to build a wonderful Christian family. After living several places in Middle Tennessee, they moved to Oxford in 1959 and partnered in the ministries of the Oxford church of Christ from then until sidelined by age and infirmity. Doug and Cora Beal worked with other zealous Christians to establish the University Christian Student Center in 1960, and that ministry continues today under direction of the Oxford church of Christ as the “Rebels for Christ.” Cora Beal excelled in offering hospitality to small and great and she also served for many years in bus ministry, World Bible School, and as a children’s Bible class teacher. She freely offered love and affection encouragement to her church family, advice and counsel to those who sought it, and fun and laughter to all nearby. Miss Cora Beal was known for her quick wit and for feeding multitudes of family and friends sumptuous food at her table. Cora Beal is survived by two daughters, McKay Murray (Lambert) and Anne Lehman, both of Oxford; two sons, Doug Shields, Jr. (Becky) of Oxford and Ben Shields (Sheila) of Little Rock, AR; eleven grandchildren, Nathan Murray (Carla), Alice-Anne Light (Brad), Laura Shields, Bradley Shields (Paige), Harry Lehman III (Annie), Heather Kellis (Ross), Haley Main (Hunter), Benjamin Shields (Lindsey), Kayely-Morganne Schingle (Tyler), Anna-Grace Simmons (Austin), and Molly-Elizabeth Shields; and by thirteen great-grandchildren. Mrs. Shields was preceded in death by her husband, F. Douglas Shields, Sr., her parents, Herschel Hardison and Jane Jennings McKay Hardison; three sisters, Jane McKay Anderson, Anne Hardison Neil, Helen Hayden Hardison; three brothers, James Hardison, Harold Hardison and Jack Terrell Hardison; and two grandchildren, Landon Murray and Sarah-Jane Shields Bedwell. Donations and memorials in honor of Cora Beal Shields may be made to the University Christian Student Center (409 Jackson Ave. West, Oxford, MS 38655) or World Bible School (www.worldbibleschool.net/gifts/new).

Cora Beal Shields

July 24, 1925 - December 20, 2023

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