In the fall of 2005, Shirley Ward was elected as the 17^th President of the Tennessee Federation of Republicans Women at its 25th Biennial Convention.  Shirley brings a lifetime of experience that began in Memphis politics in the 1970’s.

In 2004, Shirley was named Deputy Chairman of W Stands for Women.  Shirley served as County Chairman for Senator Frist and Van Hilleary and was Co-Chairman for Bush/Cheney twice. She was the Financial Director for TeamGOP.org, and served as Finance Director for two congressional campaigns and several state house races in west Tennessee .

  Shirley was elected twice as President of the Tipton County Republican Women where she was named Republican Woman of the Year.   Shirley served as Vice Chairman of the Tipton County Republican Party and Vice Chairman of the 8^th Congressional District Republican Coalition. 

Shirley was in the first graduating class of the Volunteer State Excellence in Public Service Series.  She now serves on the advisory board. Shirley was appointed to the Tennessee GOP Development Council in 2005.

Outside of politics Shirley continues to serve her community as President of the Tipton County Board for the Carl Perkins Center for the Prevention of Child Abuse, Vice President of the Tipton County Drug Coalition and serves on the Board of CARE – ALL . She serves as the secretary for the Tipton County Total Leadership Alumni Association.     Shirley has served on the Board of Heart to Heart, and was named Director of the Year for two years in a row by the Tipton County Chamber of Commerce. She is a graduate of the Tipton County Total Leadership Program sponsored by the Tipton County Chamber of Commerce. She is a member of the Covington Exchange Club where she has served as President.  She has served as the President of the Tipton County Business and Professional Women and also the South Tipton Business Club. She serves as the Treasurer of her Sunday School class.

Shirley, a former high school star athlete, resides in her hometown of Covington . She attended the University of Tennessee at Martin and is the office manager and paralegal for a law firm in Covington . She and her husband Doug have two children and two grandchildren.