Tennessee is carrying a deep sadness after the loss of Riley Shirley. At just twenty-two, she had a kind of energy and authenticity most people spend their whole lives trying to find. Her life was cut short in a tragic accident, leaving her family and community shocked and grieving the loss of someone who brought genuine light everywhere she went.
Riley grew up wrapped in love, music, and the cold of the skating rink. She graduated from Mt. Juliet High School, where she sang in the choir and earned the honor of competing at the state level. Music gave her a way to express what stayed unspoken. Just as central to her identity was figure skating. She trained for years, competing throughout the eastern United States and eventually coaching. Her coaches remembered her as someone who led with heart before anything else, which was exactly how she approached every passion in her life.
Outside of those achievements, Riley was the kind of person who took on the emotional weight of the people she cared about. She adored her family, held tight bonds with the people closest to her, and treated her dog Draco like the little ruler of her universe. She faced hardships that would have overwhelmed most, yet she kept showing up with love, stubbornness, and fire.
Riley Shirley leaves behind a legacy shaped by her determination, her tenderness, and her instinct to lift others even when she was struggling herself. Tennessee won’t forget her or the impact she made in the short time she was here.
