A beautiful flower bloomed into the lives of Elizabeth Johnson and Carl Wright on March 21, 1956, and they name her Shirley Gean Wright. She was the oldest of eight children.
Shirley attended grade school at Sanders Chapel and graduated from Muskogee High School. She then later attended Tulsa Community College for two years.
She met and married Tony Ledbetter and they were married for 19 years. Shirley professed her belief in Christ at an early age,under the tutelage of Reverend E. V. Brown, Sr., at Sanders Chapel Baptist Church. She was a devoted member of Cole Creek Baptist Church and later became a member of Turning Point New Deliverance Ministry under the tutelage of Reverend J. E. and R. C. Harris, where she served as a faithful Usher until her home-going.
Shirley made history by becoming the first black woman to work for the Muskogee City Street Department. She later retired from Tulsa Public Schools as a para-professional in 2014.
She loved fishing, working on cars, watching her Dallas Cowboys and O.U. Football games, enjoying family activities as well as her Red Seal snuff. Shirley never met a stranger and her door was always open for others if you were hungry or needed a place to rest.
She closed her eyes for the last time on this side of eternity on Thursday, December 12, 2019 from Tulsa, Oklahoma. Shirley was preceded in death by her grandparents and parents, and her favorite Aunt, Arline.
Shirley leaves to celebrate her passing; four sons, William [Jamie], Fredrick [Tammy], all of Tulsa, Oklahoma, Jason [Tonya] and Jeremiah, all of Muskogee, Oklahoma; her siblings, Debra, Tulsa, Oklahoma, Marcuus [Lois], Phylliis [Earl], Deniise, Pervis [Donna], all of Muskogee, Oklahoma, Dennis Jr., and Tyrone[Clyte], all of Tulsa, Oklahoma; along with a host of grandchildren, four great-grandchildren, uncles, nieces, nephews, and cousins. She enjoyed her favorite nephews, Michael, L.C., C.C. and C.L., along with her Uncle Phint, Uncle Johnny, Aunt Jean and last but not least, her life long friend, Lois Diggs.
Her final hour with us will be shared on Saturday, December 21, 2019 at 2:00 PM in the Antioch Temple of Hope, 500 West Broadway Avenue in Muskogee. Dr. Marlon J. Coleman is the gracious host Pastor and Apostle J. E. Harris, Pastor of Turning Point New Deliverance Ministries will Officiate.
Burial will follow in the New Hope Cemetery at Oktaha, Oklahoma.
You may visit Sister Shirley, as she slumbers in sweet repose at the funeral home on Friday from 10 AM until 6 PM.
