Shirley Ann Rivers Lancaster

Shirley Ann Rivers Lancaster, 89, of White Lake, passed away on September 10, 2026, at Lower Cape Fear LifeCare in Whiteville.

Born August 13, 1937, in Cheraw, South Carolina, Shirley was the daughter of the late Walter Rivers and Lula Lowrimore Rivers. She was also preceded in death by her husband, Ecwood “Preacher Eckie” Lancaster, and by her siblings: Larue Rivers, Louise Rogers, and Violet Parker.

She is survived by her children: Woody Lancaster (Carolyn), Kip Lancaster (Trinh), and Leslie Lancaster Sinclair (Patrick), all of Elizabethtown. She also leaves behind her beloved grandchildren: Tripp Lancaster (Emili), Chase Lancaster (Amanda), Quinn Lancaster (Kate), Scout Sinclair, Anthony Autry (Ashley), and Dom Whittington (Shawneque). Her memory will continue to live on in the lives of her great-grandchildren: Bailee, Layken, Hartley, Racquel, A.J., and Adalynn; as well as her nieces and nephews: Jerry Sellers, Tommy Sellers, Patricia Wilkerson, Sara Rhodes, June Berrier, Wanda Sellers, Jay Rivers and David Rivers. Surrounded by the family she cherished so dearly, Shirley’s legacy is one of love, strength, and heartfelt devotion.

She is also survived by multiple other children and grandchildren that are way too many to count. It was rare when accompanying her to the store or sporting event that you didn’t hear, “Hey Grandma.” Of course she would often say that Dom was her favorite grandson and Cindy Rhodie was her favorite daughter. If you knew Shirley, you knew better than to argue.

Mrs. Shirley, as she was known to many, quickly became active in the United Methodist Church after marrying. She was instrumental in many youth programs in both the local church and the NC Conference. In the summers, she could always be found at conference youth events or at Singletary Lake for a week of camp.

She was the backbone of the family as well as the ministry she shared with Preacher Eckie. She was always in the background but she was definitely there and had planned everything down to the minute. In later years, you would find her at The Corner Cafe. When you walked in you were family and when you left, she would always say, I love you. And when she said it. She meant it!

A visitation will be held on Sunday, September 13th, from 3-3:45 pm at Bladen-Gaskins Funeral Home in Elizabethtown followed by a funeral service at 4pm. Burial will take place in the Wesley’s Chapel Church Cemetery in Elizabethtown.

In lieu of flowers, please donate to: Victory United Methodist Church 404 Quality Road Fayetteville, NC 28306 or to Grace United Methodist Church PO Box 2697 Elizabethtown, NC 28337.