She was born Shirley Griffin, on August 31, 1936 in Pittsburgh, Pa. to Morgan “Slim” Griffin and Roceania McDonald Payne. She attended Schenley High School and the University of Pittsburgh.
As a woman of faith, our mother accepted Jesus Christ as her God and Savior as a young adult. Her sister-in-Christ, Cora White, would always say, “I kept my plate turned down, fasting, until she got saved.”
Chaplain Shirley took great pride in introducing everyone she met to the Lord. Her devotion to her family and her firm belief in the Lord God supported her in many life situations and ultimately gave her peace and strength throughout the years in her Christian walk with Jesus. She looked to Christ as her example and to the best of her ability was dedicated to living her life for God. Not only on Sunday and Wednesday Bible studies – 24 hours a day, 7 days a week – she labored faithfully to honor the Lord Jesus Christ.
