Shirley Main Roop Cheeks Kirkwood
Shirley Main Roop Cheeks Kirkwood of Bridgewater, Virginia, died March 7, 2025.
She was born to Olive Virginia Main and William Roger Roop in Carroll County, Maryland on July 28, 1934
Shirley graduated from Elmer Wolfe High School in 1952 and Baltimore Business College in 1953. Her interest in further education continued throughout her life as she
attended Western Maryland College, Bridgewater College, Eastern Mennonite University, and the Virginia School of Massage.
Shirley’s life was one of service to community and engagement in women’s rights activism. She was involved in the ERA and League of Women Voters in those formative years. Her life was spent serving her communities as volunteer for many human rights and service organizations: Hospice, Habitat for Humanity, The Mediation Center, Nature Conservancy, CASA, Bridgewater Church of the Brethren, Bridgewater Retirement Community, Global Volunteers in Romania, and was a facilitator for the Womaen’s Caucus in the Church of the Brethren. She was a certified massage therapist and Healing Touch practitioner and was instrumental in bringing Healing Touch education to the Shenandoah Valley.
Reading and participation in book groups continued to foster her interest in ideas and thinking.
Family life included marriage to Dr. Sherrill Cheeks (a high school classmate and father of their 3 daughters), and to Dr. James J. Kirkwood and his 2 children.
She is survived by daughters Patricia Cheeks (Steve Weaver), Ann Cheeks, Kathryn Cheeks (Cole Stiteler), Kim Kirkwood, Burton Kirkwood (MaryClaire), seven grandchildren, Zachary Weaver (Michele), Elizabeth O’Connell (Robert), Bryan Ringgold (Beth Thompson), Rachel Ringgold, Connor Grimes, Logan Grimes (Elena), Benjamin Kirkwood, 5 great grandchildren, and sister Pat Roop Hollinger (Byron).
She was predeceased by her parents, husband James Kirkwood, former husband and recent partner, Sherrill Cheeks, and sister Elaine Hoover.
A Quaker Memorial Service will be held at Lantz Chapel at the Bridgewater Retirement Community on May 31 at 1:00 p.m.
Memorial donations may be made to Heifer International. This project is near to her heart, as her parents volunteered their farm as a holding farm for heifers at the inception of Heifer Project International.
Donations may also be made to Bridgewater Retirement Community.
