Mrs. Shirley Ann White

A Celebration Of Life: Shirley was born to Lucious Flowers and Clarice Davies in Ypsilanti, Michigan, March 29, 1951. She was raised by her grandmother Tommie Lee (Jackson) Lynch, in Eastman, Georgia until age eleven, she was then reunited with her mother in Detroit, Michigan. She was one of two sisters and six brothers survived by Mary Joyce Wallace and Isaac Watson. Shirley was educated in the Georgia School system until she returned to Detroit. She attended Detroit Public Schools, but then shortly after entering high school she realized that she had bigger responsibilities and decided to drop out and assist with family obligations. At the age of 19, she moved to Trenton, New Jersey where she lived with her Aunt Mary Helen. She attended Mercer County Community College in the December win program where she earned her GED. She worked multiple little jobs in the healthcare profession, and then went on to work for the state of New Jersey for five years. She decided to make a better life for herself and her three children and moved back to Detroit, Michigan, where she later got a temporary job working for Blue Cross and Blue Shield through Kelly services. They were so impressed with her work ethic that they decided to hire her in full-time at Blue Cross and Blue Shield where she worked for 24 years and happily retired. She furthered her education and went to Davenport University for four years in Accounting/Computer Information Systems. In 1989, she visited Word of Faith; she later became a member, she joined the Sanctuary Choir and later served as a hostess. She remained a member until her departure. What we love most about our Mother/Nana is how strong she was. She was a beautiful woman inside and out. And if you ever needed the truth you could always count on her to give it to you and she wouldn’t sugar coat it and we respected her for that. She never told anyone she was a good mom or strong black woman; she just did what needed to be done, she handled her business. She was a very humble and optimistic person, never looking to put herself before others. Now that we’re older we know some of the many different challenges she faced and how difficult it must have seemed at times but we now realize that she made it through by the Grace of God. And even through her health challenges the last few months she remained strong and steady in her faith, she had a good heart and we had lots of laughs hugs and kisses and we’re so grateful to God for it. She was strong, sweet, amazing and a beautiful rose and we’ll forever love her.

Mrs. Shirley Ann White

March 29, 1951 - January 27, 2014