Mrs. Florence James Shields, 70, of Decatur, died Thursday, August 23, 2012. She was the mother of Marcus Todd Searcy and Jessica Dianne Shields; and, wife of John Douglas Shields.

Funeral rites for Mrs. Florence James Shields of Decatur will be 1:00 p.m. Saturday, September 1, 2012 at Peace Lutheran Church, 1679 Columbia Dr., Decatur. The Rev. Dr. Victor J. Belton, pastor and officiant. The body will lie in-state one hour before the service. Interment Kennedy Memorial Gardens.

Public viewing will be Friday, August 31, 2012 from 2:00 PM – 9:00 PM with a family hour from 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM at Grissom-Clark Funeral Home, 227 East Lake Dr. (at Memorial Dr.) 404-373-3191 www.grissom-clarkfh.com.

Florence Marie James Shields was born in Putnam County, Eatonton, Georgia on March 3, 1942. She was the fifth child of Charlie James and Florence Paschal James. She was preceded in death by both parents and by her oldest brother, Alvester James.

Florence attended Flat Rock Elementary School and Butler-Baker High School in Eatonton, Georgia. She continued her education by attending Albany State University in Albany, Georgia and the University of Georgia facility in Atlanta, Georgia. She was gainfully employed as a Civil Service employee with The Department of Health and Human Services. For almost forty years she was overseeing Health Facilities in designated areas in the United States.

Florence joined Peace Lutheran Church under the leadership of Rev./Dr. Victor J. Belton and she served faithfully until her health problems prevented her from participating fully in many church activities.

Florence is survived by her husband, John Douglas Shields, a son Marcus Todd Searcy, a daughter, Jessica Diane Shields, a grandson, Landon Searcy; two sisters, Edna J. Hagan (Larry) of Columbus, Georgia and Trellie J. Jeffers of Talladega, Alabama; three brothers, Charles A. James of Decatur, Georgia, Thedwron James (Marie) of Albany, Georgia and Larry Paschal (Betty) of Eatonton, Georgia; one aunt, Lillie Jackson of Compton, California and two uncles; Louis Paschal of Milledgeville, Georgia and Morris Paschal of Cleveland, Ohio; ten nieces, five nephews, fourteen grand nephews, six grand nieces, one great nephew and a host of cousins and friends.