Shirley Eleanor Wilson

Our beloved mother, Shirley Eleanor Wilson was born December 9, 1928 in Montclair, New Jersey to the late Laura Butler and Edward Barnes. She was called to the pearly gates of heaven on January 28, 2017 at the young age of 88. Shirley is preceded in death by her brother, Walter Lee Hall and stepfather, Ashley Hall. Shirley attended the Montclair School System and graduated from Montclair High School in 1946. She accepted Jesus Christ as her Lord and Savior and was a member of the Metropolitan Church in Newark, NJ. In 1948. Shirley Barnes married the late Andrew Walter Strange in Newark, NJ and was blessed with 2 children, Andrew and Walter. She later married Tony Lee Wilson in 1969 and blessed with Lynette and Charles. She worked as a Certified Nursing Assistant until becoming disabled in 1975. She was a member of the Sophisticated Ladies Social Club. Shirley enjoyed taking road trips to Coney Island, eating Nathan hot dogs, riding the ferry to Beacon, NY and going to Canada. She also loved playing bingo, pinochle and solitaire, along with watching reality shows for relaxation. Mahalia Jackson, Shirley Caesar and Patti Labelle were three of her favorite singers. Shirley would often go around the house singing her favorite, made up song, “Grandma Got The Baby”. Shirley was a mother to her community by opening up her home and caring for the neighborhood children. She treated them as her own with many of them staying at her home during rough times which would leave lasting impression on their lives. Even though she was not a teacher, she would tell them stories that had life lessons. She was a loving and caring person that always made you feel at home. Her overall mission in life was to uplift people and see them succeed. She leaves to cherish her memory a loving daughter, Lynette Baldwin (Ervin); three caring sons, Andrew Strange (Lillian), Walter Strange (Audrey) and Charles Wilson; 12 grandchildren, 12 great-grandchildren; devoted niece, Nelly Porter; two god-daughters, Cynthia Jordan and Sabrina Owens, and a host of cousins, nieces, nephews and friends, a dear family friend, Ms. Mary. But when you give to the needy do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing. –Matthew 6:3

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Shirley Eleanor Wilson

December 9, 1928 - January 28, 2017