Thomas Timothy Shaw
Thomas Timothy Shaw, 63, died July 23, 2019, after a sudden illness. Funeral services were held July 25, 2019, at Holly Springs Funeral Home. Interment was at Spring Hill Baptist Church Cemetery in Waterford. He leaves his beloved wife of 45 years, Cherrie Stone Shaw.
Tim was born December 8, 1955, to Guy Knowlton Shaw and the late Dolly Hankins Shaw. He attended Holly Springs Schools until he began 8th grade when Waterford's students were transferred to Potts Camp School. It was at this time that he saw Cherrie Marke Stone getting out of her mother's car. He made the statement many times that "she was married, she just didn't know it yet."
Tim spent his teen years working as a lifeguard at Wall Doxey State Park. He completed Water Safety Instructor class through the Red Cross and trained other lifeguards. He saved numerous lives and taught many kids to swim. Many will remember his diving skills and how he never lost at playing water tagswimming under and around the dock until he tagged the last one out.
After graduating in 1973 he attended Northwest MS Junior College where he competed on the swim team and worked as a lifeguard at the pool. He attended the University of Mississippi, lacking only a semester to finish a degree as a history teacher.
Tim served as rural mail carrier for the Waterford-Laws Hill route for more than 30 years. He was loved by his customers, always going above and beyond to help them. He saved one customer whose tractor turned over on him while mowing on an incline. The tractor could not be seen from the road. The gentleman said, "I've been waiting for you, Tim. I knew you would hear me." He never had an accident as a mail carrier and had a perfect driving record for the USPS. He retired in 2016.
Tim was known as a man with a caring heart. If you needed help, he was the man you called. He bush-hogged, broke up gardens, gave rides and even loaned money to people who needed it. He especially enjoyed mentoring young men, teaching them to drive and repair tractors and farm machinery. All these young men remember going to get parts and eating at Red Lobster or some other restaurant. He encouraged them to do their best and was proud of them as they succeeded in life.
Tim was never seen without a Chihuahua in the truck with him. He was a great big man and loved his little bitty dogs. His pups were notorious for trying to bite everyone as they turned to leave. He always got a kick out of grown men dancing around to get away from his dogs.
Although he suffered with kidney disease and heart issues, he continued to push himself to live a normal life. He worked at the post office and then came home to work with his cows. He enjoyed baling hay but wanted somebody else to cut and rake it. His son, daughters, friends, and the many young men who helped him can attest to this. He was always glad for spring to arrive and the grass to grow so he could quit feeding hay. He loved to clear land and push dirt with his dozer. He called himself a professional driver but many will recall the time he let the dozer slip into the pond. In fact, someone placed an ad on the bulletin board at the Waterford Store-Underwater Dozing-Call Tim Shaw!
Tim loved his children but said if he had known how much he would love his grandchildren, he would have had them first. He was a wonderful Pop and all the kids knew he couldn't say no unless Cici said it for him. When his three grandchildren were 11 and 12, a new grandson was born. What a blessing and a joy this little one was. Tim was so proud he told everyone about him ( restaurant servers, his doctors and nurses, store clerks, random people at Wal Mart) and made them look at his pictures. Sadly, he will never meet his newest grandson, Cash Mitchell, due to arrive any day.
Tim leaves to remember him with love, his son, Thomas Mark Shaw and wife, Jamie; and his daughters, April Grace Stacks and Hayley Ruthann Shaw. He leaves five grandchildren, Blue, Brayen, Madi-Grace, Maverick, and Cash.
Tim leaves his father, Guy Knowlton Shaw and stepmother, Betty Shaw; three brothers, Mike, Steve, and Eric Shaw; and one sister, Robin Shaw Merritt; along with numerous cousins, nieces and nephews.
Tim was a character, a jokester, a one-of-a-kind man and he will be missed.
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