Shirley Wilson

Shirley T. (Wooden) Wilson was born September 28, 1950, the daughter of the late Mahalia (Lindsay) Wooden and Elijah Wooden in Hopkinsville, Kentucky. She was the proud mother of 2 beautiful daughters, Candace Marnet’ Chatmon (“Can Can”) and Danyetta Nichole Black (“Nikki”).  Her teen years in Hopkinsville were well lived as she was an avid student and loved to dance. She was very popular among her peers because she could out “fast-dance” anyone. She was certainly a role model for her younger siblings as they had to hear about how great she was from former teachers at school.

In 1967, Shirley’s family moved to Indianapolis, Indiana, and she finished her Senior year at George Washington High School.  Even though the family moved, Shirley still chose to start school the very next day!  She received a prestigious award for Perfect Attendance from 1st thru 12th grade when she graduated. She attended Marion College, but later decided to obtain her license in Cosmetology. She had always mastered doing her own hair, as well as her sibling’s which included 4 younger sisters, throughout her school years. She eventually navigated to the private sector and worked for years at AT&T (formerly SBC Ameritech via Indiana Bell) and the Finance Center located at Fort Benjamin Harrison Finance Center.

In 1978, she married James Wilson of Indianapolis, Indiana, and he helped raise her 2 daughters as his own. The couple decided to move to Irving, Texas, in December, 1983. Shirley held a couple of corporate jobs before obtaining her ultimate employment with FedEx Office in Plano, Texas, where she had planned to retire.  To Shirley, FedEx was not just a job, it was an extended family.

Shirley’s life was a pleasant one as the smiles she exuberated, often due to her children, grandchildren and family, was proof. God called her home on Wednesday, April 4, 2018 at 5:20 p.m. She was preceded in death by her brothers, Nathaniel Wooden and Jeffrey Wooden; mother, Mahalia Wooden; and father, Elijah Wooden.

She leaves with loving memories her daughters Candace Chatmon, and Danyetta Black;  grandchildren, Raye Smith, Jr., Lindsey Jordan, Cameron Abron, Brittana Abron, Otis Blanton, III; great-grandchildren, Ja’Quayla Kinny & X’zariyah Smith; brother: Kenneth Wooden (wife, Shagail); sisters: Linda (Wooden) White, Debra (Wooden) Alexander, Patricia Wooden, Angela (Wooden) McNary (husband, Rodney); nieces: Desmyn Bryant, Jasmine Brown, Jamya White, Charrece (Anderson) Hounguevou, Candace (Wooden) Blakey, Latrese Wooden, Sanide Wooden, Triana Henderson, Brianna Wooden; Nephews: Elliott Wooden, Robert White (wife, Betty), Michael White (wife, Rosanna), Ja’Marion Brown, Tristan Henderson, Jalen Wilson, Jordan Wilson, Kenneth Wooden, Jr.; great niece: Rihanna & great nephews: Kaise White and Braxton Hounguevou; dear friend lovingly referred to as son-in-law: Vincent Abron.