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The Life of Ms. Shirley Ann Shorter.
Shirley was born on May 23, 1959, to the late Elmo Sr. and Hattie Bell Shorter. She attended Wilmar High School and graduated in 1977. After high school, she relocated to Waukegan, Illinois, where she lived and worked for many years at Sara Lee Corp. and AbbVie, Inc.
In 2019, Shirley retired and moved to the Dallas/Fort Worth metro-area to be closer to her mother. She often joked about trading extreme cold for extreme heat - and despite the Texas summers, she always preferred the warmer climate. She faithfully attended church at Victory Life Church, Corinth, Texas. Shirley peacefully departed this life on July 27th, 2025, at MD Anderson in Houston, Texas.
She was preceded in death by her beloved parents, Elmo Sr. and Hattie Shorter.
She leaves behind cherished memories with her sister, Sharon Y. Shorter; five brothers, Walter (Francine) Givens, Lonnie Givens, Thomas Shorter, Gary (Odessa) Shorter, and Elmo Jr. (Wendy) Shorter; and stepsister, Carolyn Matlock. She is also survived by a host of nieces, nephews, great-nieces, and great-nephews. A special bond was shared with her step-niece and dear friend, Mrs. Phyllis Bennett. Shirley also leaves behind many relatives, friends and church members who will remember her kindness, humor, and loving spirit.
There will be a wake Friday, August 8, 2025, from 6:00-8:00 p.m. at Stephenson-Dearman Funeral Home. Funeral services will be Saturday, August 9, 2025, at 11:00 a.m. at Greater Shady Grove A.M.E. Church in Wilmar, Arkansas. Burial will follow in Wilmar Cemetery. You can sign Shirley's guestbook here on her page.
Shirley was born on May 23, 1959, to the late Elmo Sr. and Hattie Bell Shorter. She attended Wilmar High School and graduated in 1977. After high school, she relocated to Waukegan, Illinois, where she lived and worked for many years at Sara Lee Corp. and AbbVie, Inc.
In 2019, Shirley retired and moved to the Dallas/Fort Worth metro-area to be closer to her mother. She often joked about trading extreme cold for extreme heat - and despite the Texas summers, she always preferred the warmer climate. She faithfully attended church at Victory Life Church, Corinth, Texas. Shirley peacefully departed this life on July 27th, 2025, at MD Anderson in Houston, Texas.
She was preceded in death by her beloved parents, Elmo Sr. and Hattie Shorter.
She leaves behind cherished memories with her sister, Sharon Y. Shorter; five brothers, Walter (Francine) Givens, Lonnie Givens, Thomas Shorter, Gary (Odessa) Shorter, and Elmo Jr. (Wendy) Shorter; and stepsister, Carolyn Matlock. She is also survived by a host of nieces, nephews, great-nieces, and great-nephews. A special bond was shared with her step-niece and dear friend, Mrs. Phyllis Bennett. Shirley also leaves behind many relatives, friends and church members who will remember her kindness, humor, and loving spirit.
There will be a wake Friday, August 8, 2025, from 6:00-8:00 p.m. at Stephenson-Dearman Funeral Home. Funeral services will be Saturday, August 9, 2025, at 11:00 a.m. at Greater Shady Grove A.M.E. Church in Wilmar, Arkansas. Burial will follow in Wilmar Cemetery. You can sign Shirley's guestbook here on her page.