Reverend Shirley Banks (McDuffey) Kincaid
KNOXVILLE - Shirley Kincaid, age 83, of Knoxville, Tennessee, went to her eternal home with the Lord on Saturday, September 9, 2023. She was born January 16, 1940, at General Hospital in Knoxville Tennessee to James and Arnola Banks.
Following her graduation from Austin High
School in 1958, Shirley went to Clark University (formerly Clark College) in Atlanta, Georgia. She married during her senior year at Clark and received her Bachelor’s Degree in Education before returning home to Knoxville, Tennessee. After giving birth to a daughter she began her career as in educator in the Knoxville City School System, serving for over two decades. During that time she also pursued and obtained her Masters Degree in School Health from the University of Tennessee Knoxville, in addition to periodically teaching college-level courses.
After retirement as an educator, Shirley served God and her community in many roles and positions, including job counselor; suicide prevention worker; advisory council member; home bible study teacher; exhorter; Vacation Bible School Director and Teacher; Sunday School Teacher; and director of several Christian outreach, education, and evangelism ministries for the Knoxville District, Chattanooga District, and Tennessee Conference of the A. M. E. Zion Church. In the early 90s she followed her calling to ordained clergy. Shortly after this she married William Kincaid in 1995 and was widowed in 2003. She continued to pastor, serving five churches in the Tennessee Conference of the A. M. E. Zion Church before retiring in 2013. Shirley was preceded in death by her parents James and Arnola Perry Banks; only sibling Yvonne (Leroy) Anderson, second husband William Kincaid and first husband Sherman McDuffey.
She is survived by her daughter Yolanda (Lydell) Hammond, nephew Orlando (Rebecca) Anderson from Birmingham Alabama, Reverend Tonja Warren and Antoine DeVault (who she considered a daughter and grandson, respectively) many in-laws, nieces, nephews, cousins, extended family, and friends to include the Banks, Hamilton, Kincaid, McDuffey and Perry families. Special thanks to Kim Ellis for the care provided to our loved one. Saturday, September 16, 2023, the family will receive friends from 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. with a funeral service to follow at Greater Warner Tabernacle A.M.E Zion Church, 3800 Martin Luther King Jr Ave, Knoxville, TN 37914. Dr. Cleo Brooks, Pastor. Flowers may be delivered to the church prior to the viewing. Interment to follow at 2:00.m., New Gray Cemetery, 2724 Western Avenue, Knoxville, TN 37921. Professional arrangements entrusted to Patton Funeral Home, Brian L. Buckmon, LFD 1-800-824-8283 or www.pattonfuneralhome1962.com