Shirley Raymond

Shirley Mae Raymond was born on August 16, 1949, the first of eight children, to the late Mr. Willie Shepherd and Mrs. Daisy Lee Shepherd, in New Roads, Louisiana. Shirley’s grandmother, Dorothy Malveo, was a very religious woman that raised her until she was four years old when her family moved to Port Arthur, TX. Shirley accepted Christ at the age of twelve at Zion Hill Baptist Church in Port Arthur, TX.

She graduated from Lincoln High School. After graduation, she went to McKinn Job Corp for cosmetology school. In 1970, she married Edgar Raymond, moved to Houston, TX and later Austin, TX. She had two beautiful daughters, Darlene, born in 1970 and Shonlene, born in 1974. Although they would later divorce, Shirley liked being married.

Shirley worked for Motorola as a Supervisor from 1974 until 1986. In 1983, she helped her husband start and run Expertise Cleaning Service. Over the years she took computer and management classes at Austin Community College. In 1997, Shirley opened Essence Joy DayCare which ran for 16 years. She loved each and every one of the children that came through her daycare as her own.

Shirley loved spending time with her family and friends. She loved to read her Bible and romance stories. What some people probably don’t know about her is that she has always enjoyed physical activities, including mud wrestling, horseback riding, mechanical bull riding, volleyball, and baseball.

Shirley said that all she has accomplished in her life comes from strength given by the Lord, even the gifts to work with kids (her hearts joy), especially her grandchildren and great grandchildren (Essence, DeVante, and Alaya).

Preceding her in death is her father, Willie Shepherd and her brother, Calvin Shepherd.

Shirley was blessed with a great family; her brothers and sisters Kennith Shepherd, Willie Shepherd Jr. (June), Joe Nathan Shepherd, Margie Shepherd, Ida Mae Shepherd, and Mary Bazile; two daughters, Darlene Washington and Shonlene Blue; grandchildren, Essence Gilbert and DeVante Gilbert; great grandchild, Alaya Gilbert; as well as numerous nieces, nephews, cousins, and relatives who loved her dearly.