Mary Alice Shinn, lovingly known as Mimi since childhood, of Ridgeway, SC, passed away peacefully on November 27, 2023. Born in Syracuse, New York, on February 26, 1937, she was a daughter of the late Walter A. Baird and Helen Teresa Nagy Baird.

Survivors include her siblings, Thomas Baird and Beverly Armstrong; her children, Carl T. (Jean) Shinn; David J. (Cheri) Shinn; Stephen M. (Mary) Shinn; her grandchildren, Jennifer Nikki Mellen, David Brandon Shinn, Stephanie Robyn Shinn, and Nathan Gregory Shinn; her great-grandchildren, Caitlin Mellen, Kyle Mellen, Kylie Mellen, and Carl Mellen.

The second eldest of seven children, Mimi was a loving sister to all of them. She was independent and self-reliant at an early age helping her mother with her siblings. She attended and was a graduate of St. Vincent de Paul Parish School (K-12) in Syracuse, New York. She married Carl T. Shinn of Edgewater Park, New Jersey in 1956. During the early years of their marriage, she worked at Olivetti Underwood and Pennsylvania Bell. After the birth of her third son, she devoted herself entirely to her family as a full-time mother and homemaker. They lived in New Jersey until 1972 when they moved to Hollywood, Florida. In addition to raising her sons, and managing their home, they took in both her mother and mother-in-law, Martha, after the passing of their husbands. She cared for them both for approximately 15 years until their passing. In 1980 they moved northward to Fort Pierce, Florida. After three consecutive hurricanes hit their home in 2003, they moved further north to Middelburg, Florida. Mimi again stepped into the role as nurse for her husband, Carl, for several years until his passing in 2011, just celebrating their 55th anniversary.

In 2013 she settled with her son, David and wife, Cheri in Ridgeway, South Carolina. She soon became an active member of the Transfiguration Catholic Church parish and found another family in the warm hearts that welcomed her. She so appreciated the love and support she received from Msgr. James LeBlanc. She was a founding member of the parish's women's group of Columbiettes and thoroughly enjoyed the various activities and the building of friendships through these faith filled women.

Throughout all of Mimi's life, she was a very hard worker, never self-indulged, and always put others before herself. She was a simple woman with simple needs. She was a woman of immense inner strength and weathered many storms in her life, always keeping a good sense of humor and loving attitude towards others. Family was always very important to her, and she loved family reunions. She enjoyed playing cards and bingo, traveling, going to bluegrass festivals, and camping.

She was preceded in death by her father, Walter A. Baird; mother, Helen Nagy; husband, Carl Thomas Shinn; brother, Jack Baird; sisters, Rose Martin, Pat Thurner, and Peggy Clark; and infant great-grandson Caleb T. Mellen.

The Mass of Christian Burial for Mrs. Shinn will be held at 12 o'clock noon on Friday, December 15th, at Transfiguration Catholic Church, 9720 Wilson Blvd, Blythewood, SC 29016. Monsignor James LeBlanc will be officiating. The mass is available to view via live streaming (and later as well) at https://www.transfigurationsc.org/303 .

A Prayer Vigil will begin at 5 o'clock followed by a Rosary at 5:30 o'clock Thursday evening. The family will greet friends following until 8 o'clock, at Shives Funeral Home, Trenholm Road Chapel, 7600 Trenholm Road Ext., Columbia.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial contributions be made to the Transfiguration Catholic Church Capital Campaign at 306 North Pines Road, Blythewood, South Carolina 29016. Mimi has long been a supporter of the ongoing fundraising of this campaign for the building of the future church and would be honored by such offerings. https://www.transfigurationsc.org/ .