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Shirley Conrad Heim, 73, of Fredericksburg passed on to the hands of the Lord on Wednesday, Oct. 7, 2009. Mrs. Heim was born in Ottoman in the county of Lancaster, to Emil James and Eleasure Aileen Belfield Conrad.
Mrs. Heim was a graduate of Mary Washington College and held a Master of Arts in administration from the University of Virginia. She was an educator and people's advocate, serving in Spotsylvania, Fredericksburg and Stafford.
As Stafford Head Start director, Ms. Heim turned a troubled program into an award winner within 10 months. She served as a master teacher for effective instructional techniques for disadvantaged children.
Stafford's first public kindergarten was started during her tenure.
Shirley's commitment to children and families led her to seek further opportunities to make an impact. Her career continued as coordinator of all federal and state programs. During this time, she served as founder and the first director of the Governor's School for the Gifted at Mary Washington College, now a statewide program, nationally validated.
She also began Stafford's Strings program and directed the Title I, II and VI programs to provide aid to students in need of remedial assistance, literary resources and handicapped services, respectively.
Her notable contributions as coordinator led to her appointment as assistant superintendent of finance and technology in 1985, ultimately giving her responsibility of the school division budget of $175 million.
As head of technology, Mrs. Heim was the driving force behind the first inclusion of technology in Stafford schools. She served in the capacity of assistant superintendent and briefly as interim superintendent until her retirement from Stafford County public schools in 2003.
Shirley Heim served on nine boards and committees, including the Moss Free Clinic, the Stafford Education Foundation, and Olde Forge Junction Inc. As a member of the Stafford Rotary Club, her service abounded with numerous projects including, and a special love for, the Festival of Trees and the Mary Washington Rotaract's senior prom.
Mrs. Heim will be remembered by many as the leader of The GoodTime Cloggers, an Appalachian dance team that entertained audiences in Virginia, Maryland, North Carolina and beyond.
She is survived by her husband, Philip D. Heim, daughter Aileen F. Heim, and brothers Milton J. Conrad and his wife, Gayle, Cleveland Conrad and his wife, Ann, and Richard Russell; and numerous nieces and nephews.
Shirley C. Heim's motto, "Don't Think Why You Can't, Think How You Can!" was illustrative of how she lived her life.
A funeral will be held at 2 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 11, at Covenant Funeral Service, Fredericksburg Chapel, with the Rev. Fred Donahoe and Dr. C. Richard Sponseller officiating. Interment will follow in Oak Hill Cemetery.
The family will receive friends from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 10, at the funeral home.
Memorials may be made in memory of Shirley C. Heim to the Lloyd F. Moss Free Clinic, 1301 Sam Perry Blvd., Fredericksburg, Va. 22401.
Online guest book is available at covenantfuneral
