Shirley Ross

After an extended illness, Shirley Ann Ross, 69, transitioned from labor to reward at Dorchester General Hospital on April 29, 2009

Shirley was born December 28, 1939, in Cambridge, Maryland to Owen and Mable Ross.

Shirley lived most of her life in Cambridge, where she attended Pine Street Elementary School and Mace's Lane High School. She graduated from Robert R. Moton High School in Easton, Maryland. She later completed a nurse's aide certificate program at Eastern Shore State Hospital and worked there for a while after training. She also did some private duty work. During her employment career, Shirley a variety of other work experiences. For several years, she did seasonal work in the Dorchester a�" Talbot County area.

As a child, Shirley attended the churches to which her parents belonged, Mount Olive Baptist Church and Bethel A.M.E. Church. She was later baptized and became a member of Zion Baptist Church.

Shirley will be remembered by family and friends for her spirit of adventure, her great sense of humor, and her ability to tell an ordinary story in ways that will have you caught up in the events or uproariously laughing. She was able to tell stories about herself like the "Easter pieces" and "the lap full of cookies" that always caused smiles and laughter. She blessed family and friends, young and old, neighbors and strangers with this gift of laughter. Also, Shirley was blessed with an understanding heart that allowed her to connect to a diversity of people. She was especially able to reach across the generations to be a friend and mentor to her nieces and nephews and her great nieces and great nephews, spending time talking and playing games with them. Her home was often the meeting place for family and friends.

Shirley Ross is survived by her two sons, Ernest Darryl Ross and Charles Ellsworth Talevon Ross; six sisters a�" Valarie Manokey (Calvin), Bernice Carney, Barbara Stanley, Betty Ross, Marian Macbeth and Peggy Ross; 24 nieces and nephews, more than 40 great nieces and great nephews; several great great nieces and great great nephews; a first cousin, William (Mary) who grew up next door; an aunt, Virginia Camper; an uncle, Len Camper; several cousins in Maryland and California; a host of friends who have been a part of her family since high school days; and many other dears friends that she had gained over the years.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Owen and Mabel Ross; a sister, Daisy Ross Wayns; an aunt, Nicey Ennals; an uncle and aunt, Leon and Marian Brown.

Funeral services will be held on Thursday, May 7, 2009 1pm at New Revelations Baptist Church 711 Bradley Ave Cambridge, MD with a viewing two hours prior to the services. Interment Bethel Cemetery. Condolences sent to www.henryfuneralhomepa.com.