Rev. Becky Shirley began her service at WSUMC in 2021. Previously, she served at at Philadelphia UMC in Fort Mill SC.  She is a graduate of Columbia College, University of South Carolina, and the Lutheran Theological Seminary here in Columbia. In the past, she has served at Trenholm Road UMC, Platt Springs Road UMC, and other congregations across SC. Rev Shirley is married to Richard Shirley and they have one daughter who is a high school teacher here in the Midlands.

She is a certified director for Rainbows for All God’s Children, a Grief Support ministry for children, youth, and adults experiencing the various losses associated with divorce, and served for many years as a grief support leader for children whose parents had died from cancer. Rev. Shirley’s community engagement includes serving as the clergy representative on the Sex Education Committee for Richland School District One and for Edgefield County School District; as a member of The National Association Mental Health Alliance Columbia Area Counc; The Edgefield County Community Planning Council; the SCUMC Conference Credit Union Credit Review Committee, the Greenwood District Committee on Congregational Development and the Columbia College Alumni Council and Board of Visitors. In addition, she has served as secretary for the UMCSC Conference Staff Relations Committee and for the Conference Board on Ordained Ministry and is a member of the Board on Ordained Ministry for the SC Annual Conference.  

She has been married to Richard Shirley for over 33 years. She has one daughter (Michelle) and an adorable grandson, Joe. Michelle and her husband Joseph are both teachers in the Fairfield school district. In her spare time, Shirley enjoys hiking and exploring both state and national parks, running, and playing with their two “furbabies”— a Lhasa Apso, Lizzie, and a yellow lab mix, Abbe.