Shirley Ann Benton was born on September 28, 1940, in LaFayette, Georgia, to Sanford Benton and Addie Ruth Brown. The youngest of four siblings, she was raised alongside her brothers and sisters—Homer Allen Benton, Louise Annette Benton (Green), and Harveyette Benton (Jones)—in a home rooted in faith and family.

At the tender age of 13, Shirley committed her life to Christ at Happy Home Baptist Church in LaFayette. From that moment forward, her walk with God became the cornerstone of her life. A devoted woman of faith, Shirley found deep joy and purpose in studying the Word, and her spirit reflected the love and compassion of the God she served.

After graduating from Hill High School, Shirley stepped bravely into the world, leaving her hometown at 18 to build a life of her own. She settled in Chicago, Illinois, where she established a rewarding career as an Occupational Therapist. Despite the demands of her profession, her proudest achievement remained her role as a mother. Shirley was blessed with six beloved sons: Kerry Benton, Keena Benton, Gerald Benton, Kerry Benton (II), Kenneth Benton, and Kevin Benton. Her love for her sons was unwavering, and her nurturing presence shaped the generations that followed.

Following her retirement, Shirley continued to live out her calling to serve others. She poured her heart into volunteering at church pantries and soup kitchens, where her kindness, warmth, and generosity left lasting impressions. It was through this ministry that she formed cherished friendships and continued to touch lives with her unshakeable faith and gentle strength.

Shirley was preceded in death by her loving parents, Sanford and Addie Ruth, five of her sons, and her precious granddaughter, Adriel Benton. Though her absence is deeply felt, her legacy lives on in the life of her son, Keena Benton; her ten grandchildren; twenty-two great-grandchildren; and two great-great-grandchildren.

To know Shirley was to know grace, humility, and a strength that uplifted others. Her life was a testament to endurance, faith, and unconditional love. She will be missed beyond measure and remembered forever with love and gratitude.