Shirley Mae Thomas was born in Texarkana, Arkansas. She was the only child of Versie Johnson. Baptized at an early age, Shirley belonged to the St. Paul Missionary Baptist Church. She would go on to marry Macie Lee Thomas creating a beautiful family. While she birthed three children - Linda, Juna, and Tony - into the world, her nurturing spirit extended far beyond her own immediate family. Her home was a sanctuary of open doors and open hearts, where anyone seeking love and comfort found a place to belong.

She was a pillar in her community, serving as a spiritual guide to anyone who needed her wisdom. The wisdom in which she inherited from her grandmother Queen Easter Maxwell, and her mother, Versie Johnson. In her early adult years, she worked as a cook and teacher's aide at a daycare. Later in life, she would work and retire at Texarkana College as a custodian.

Shirley's faith in God, hard work, and perseverance defined her character. She held her family together during times of adversity. While in moments of greatness, her voice remained a humble reminder of life's blessings. Shirley was a victorious fighter, a best friend, a protector, a lover and a true angel on earth.

She is preceded in death by her mother, Versie Johnson.

She leaves to cherish beautiful memories, her husband of 58 years, Macie Lee Thomas; two daughters, Linda Rogers (Jackie Rogers) of Texarkana and Juna Thomas of Texarkana; her only son Tony Thomas ( Kaylan Thomas) of Houston, Texas; 8 grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren.