Jim, a native of Vicksburg, grew up in California, graduating from Garden Grove High School. He pursued a Master's of Fine Arts in Theatre at California State University Fullerton. He went to work at Disneyland in Anaheim before transferring to Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida prior to it's opening in 1971. During his time with the Walt Disney Company, Jim worked with such performers as Kenny Rogers and Mel Torme. He moved back to Vicksburg in 1976, where he married and started a family. Through the Vicksburg Theatre Guild, he remained active as an actor, director, producer, and mentor. In all, his career in performing arts spanned more than 50 years. When not at the theatre he was an avid chef and woodworker, always striving to create.

Jim was preceded in death by his father, James Herman Shirley JR. He is survived by his wife of 46 years Teresa, daughter Angelia Noland and son-in-law Tim, grandchildren Bishop and Liam, mother Martha Benson, brother Harold Shirley and his wife Katie, sister Louise Hersey and her husband Sam, step-mother Karen Shirley, step-brother James P. Shirley, step-sister Connie Huff, surrogate daughter Michelle Thompson and her husband Daniel.