Shirley Holmes Coles

Legacy of Life Shirley Mae Holmes Coles departed this life on Sunday, May 16, 2021 at the Bon Secours Community Hospice House in North Chesterfield County, Virginia. She was the first of two children born to the late Adolphus Morgan and Mildred Ethel Holmes. She was preceded in death by her sister, Jean Austin Holmes Yates and her husband Aubrey Felix Coles. From that union, they had a daughter, Pamela NaChay Coles. Shirley’s early years of education were in Glen Allen where she attended and graduated from Virginia Randolph School. She accepted Christ as her personal Savior at an early age and became a member of the St. James Baptist Church in Eastern Henrico County, where she remained a member. A hard worker, Shirley held many jobs over the years. She worked as a wig specialist at Southern Wig Corporation, as a bowling alley attendant at Cool Lane Bowling Alley, and was a machine operator at Philip Morris Corporation, where she retired. For many years, she worked the night shift at Philip Morris so that by day, she could provide care for her daughter. Always concerned about the quality of Pamela’s health care, Shirley dedicated her life to ensuring the wellbeing and rehabilitation of her daughter and insisted that she had the best physicians and nurses. “Shirley Mae” as she was affectionately called by family and friends, enjoyed the music of country music legend Willie Nelson, as well as her favorite rhythm and blues artists. She was fun-loving and enjoyed dancing, playing cards, entertaining and cooking for her family during the Easter and Thanksgiving holidays. Trying her hand at various D-I-Y home improvement projects and fishing were also among her hobbies and specialties. No one could cook, clean or “cut up” better than Shirley Mae. She leaves to cherish her memory her daughter, Pamela NaChay Coles; a devoted niece, Denise Y. Dye; a great niece, Morgan Dye-Brown (Johnelle); a great nephew, Adam D. L. Dye; two great great nieces, Amira Brielle Dye and August Simone Brown; one great great nephew, Jamison Ellis Brown; aunts, one devoted, Veora H. Waller; many cousins, and other relatives and friends. Although we loved you dearly, we could not make you stay. Your golden heart stopped beating, Your hard working hands to rest. God proves to us, He only takes the best.

Tributes

Shirley Holmes Coles

October 29, 1935 - May 16, 2021