Shirley Mae Jones (born March 31, 1934) Is An American Actress And Singer. She Starred As Wholesome Characters In A Number Of Well-known Musical Films, Such As Oklahoma!, Carousel, And The Music Man. Ironically, She Won The Academy Award For Best Supporting Actress For Playing A "bad Girl" In Elmer Gantry. For Younger Fans, She Is Probably Best Known As Shirley Partridge, The Widowed Mother Of Five Children In The Television Series The Partridge Family, Co-starring Her Real-life Stepson David Cassidy.