Shirley Jean Johnson Pipkins
Sunrise: March 14, 1937 - Sunset: April 30, 2015
Obituary
On Sunday, March 14, 1937, in Houston, Texas, Benjamin Johnson Sr. and Dorothy (Austin) Johnson welcomed their 6th child, a daughter whom they named, Shirley Jean.
Shirley attended Blackshear Elementary, E. O. Smith Jr. High, and Phillis Wheatley High School. She accepted Christ as her personal Savior at a young and tender age and she was baptized by the late Rev. B. J. Collins in 1950 at Greater True Vine Missionary Baptist Church. Although she was a member at Greater True Vine, the Lord blessed her with musical talents and she served as a musician at several churches around the Houston area. She landed her first musician job at Mt. Herman Baptist Church at the age of 12 years. Most recently, she was a member of Lilly Grove Missionary Baptist Church, under the leadership of Pastor Terry K. Anderson and Associate Pastor Carlos Washington.
Shirley loved people and worked well in whatever capacity she was asked to work. Shirley’s biggest joy in life was her children and grandchildren. Because of her children and grandchildren, she was able to start Shirley’s Daycare out of the comfort of her own home, where it allowed her to care for several children through the years.
After a lengthy illness, God called Shirley home from labor to her reward on Thursday, April 30, 2015 at 3:15 a.m., at Memorial Hermann Hospital Memorial City, in Houston, Texas.
Shirley was preceded in death by her parents; son, Larry Jerome Pipkins; brothers: Thomas Higgins Jr., Wilford Johnson, Bernard Johnson, and Nathaniel Johnson; sisters: Theresa Johnson, Maude Esther Johnson Addison and Carolyn Joyce Johnson Lee.
Shirley’s outstanding personality and beautiful smile will be missed by all of the many lives that she touched during her 78 year journey here on earth.
Warm and loving memories will forever be cherished by her five children, eighteen grandchildren, two great-grandchildren, three brothers, nieces, nephews and other relatives and friends.
~ Obituary and Letter/Will Originally written by Shirley in 1991 ~
