Mona Shirley Kennedy Knox, 82, of Mooresville, N.C., went home to glory on Monday, June 16, 2025, at the S. Mitchell Mack Hospice House after an extended illness.

She was born in Iredell County to the late John Earl Kennedy Sr. and the late Dora Annie Mae Campbell. Her husband of 50-plus years, Willie Eugene Knox, also preceded her in death.

First Lady Shirley Knox, affectionately known as Maw-Maw to some, graduated from Dunbar School in 1960, and later completed some schooling at Winston-Salem State University. She married Willie Eugene Knox in 1967. She also furthered her education at Mitchell Community College and at H & R Block, preparing income taxes.

Mona retired from Burlington in Mooresville in 1996, and later, as a transportation business owner and tax preparer along side her husband, where she labored for several more years before officially retiring in 2009.

In addition to her parents and husband, she was preceded in death by her brother, John Earl Kennedy, Jr., who was affectionately known as “Pickle”.

Mona was saved, sanctified, and Holy Ghost filled at an early age at New Parent Home under the leadership of Reverend Luther and Reverend Kay F. Gamble. It was prayer and faith that her husband and family later followed her in receiving salvation. Her husband later became ordained as Reverend Willie Knox at Jerusalem Baptist Church, under Reverend Kay F. Gamble. She later served as a Deaconess at Bethel Baptist Church in Kannapolis, N.C.; New City House of Praise of Mooresville, N.C.; and was recognized as Deaconess and First Lady “Shirley” Knox at Living Water Ministry, Troutman, N.C.

She is survived of her loving children of the home, Veronica K. Coleman and Lee Knox (Kim). In addition, her sons are Rodney Sloan, Barron Kerns, and Bishop Kevin Lytle (Pastor Selma). Her daughters include Karen Simpson (Apostle Charles), Bregenia Smith (Corey), Mavis Knox, Tamara Morris (Cedric), and Evangelist Lynn Knox (Gene Wade). She also has three special daughters, Jacqueline Gamble, Danna Gore-Savage, and Evangelist Patricia Ware, and a special son, Edward Karriker. She has 40-plus grands with many, many great-grands, nieces, nephews, and a host of many others.

Visit the Book of Memories for Mrs. Knox at www.rutledgeandbigham.com.

Rutledge and Bigham Funeral Home is serving the Knox family.