Shirley Smith

Obituary For Shirley Smith

Shirley Ann Smith was born on October 7, 1942 in Baltimore, Maryland at John Hopkins Hospital to the parents of Martha Fairfax Jamison (George Jamison) and Clayborne Fairfax. She departed this life on Tuesday; January 5, 2021.

She was a woman of many trades a licensed beautician, artist, cook, and interior decorator. Shirley was known for her press and curl, ham, macaroni and cheese, and sticky’s. She was a classy woman who would dress you under the table and who wore a blonde hairdo like no other. She graduated from Highland High School and was crowned the Beauty Queen.

In her union with her ex-husband, Lesley Smith, four beautiful children were born; Wesley “Dino”, Leslie “Shirl”, Elrigo “Rico” and LaShawnda “Nikki” and her youngest son Eric Ray Smith. After moving from North Carolina to New York she became the foster mother of many children and received many accolades for being one of the best foster mothers at Harlem Downing. To know Shirley was to love her and to dance with her as she moved her hips to the beat of any drum. In Schomburg building 1660 Shirley would always decorate the floors for her neighbors during the holidays and welcome anyone into her home with open arms. The cloth she was made from can never be replaced or duplicated.

Shirley will be preceded in death with her mother Martha Jamison, father George Jamison, her beloved sons Elrigo Smith and Calee Sanders.

She leaves behind her siblings; twin sister Betty Ann Fairfax, Kareem Ali Bey (Mary), Samuel Jamison Jr. (Josephine) and Tammy Watson Sorey; her beloved children Wesely Smith (Sharon), Leslie Hemphill (Jarvis), LaShawnda Smith (Calee), Eric Ray Smith (Laverne), special children Nonya Smith Armstrong (Dontay), Drafton Davis Sr. (Priscilla), LaShon Rush (Marlon), Liz Thompson, Yanette Cakins, Patrice Frances and Michael Jordan Smith; grandchildren Keiona Smith, DaNeisha Davis (William), Christopher Smith, DaQuesha Taylor (Bryce), Tadeja Smith (Tieka), Drafton Davis Jr.(Maysie), Caliyah Sanders, Jaren Smith, Marlon Layne Jr., Jasmine Hemphill, Ashonti Hemphill, Eric Smith, Kayshawn Smith and Sherica Smith; great grandchildren: Charlie, Michael McGeachey, Colin McGeachey, Natalie Davis, Bryce Taylor, William Blount III, Dream Taylor, Briella Humphries; godsister Dennis Stroud; niece Marvenia Fairfax; nephew Clayborne Fairfax III, Jeffery Dawkins, Samuel Jamison III; special niece and nephew Calvin and Michelle Dawkins and other relatives and friends.

Walk thru viewing at the funeral home on Friday; January 8, 2021 from 4 until 8

Graveside service on Saturday; January 9, 2021 at Gaston Memorial Park, Gastonia at 10:30 a.m.