HOMEGOING CELEBRATION of 67~ March 15, 1944 ~ June 13, 2013 ay, June 19, 2013 -1:00 P.M.- Q9/.Q/({ ~' ~ T l/f/l/l/I 'C/ Candler Road, S.E. Atlanta, Georgia 30317 ~. o/Jf/~J f!J~ . 67~/ey ~on Yf}&k was born on March 15, 1944 to parents Lecf Edward Johnson, Sr. , and Gussie Wright, in Bronx, NY. Her parents preceded her in death as did her only brother, Leo Edward Johnson, Jr. Shirley attended the Bronx Public School System during her primary years and early secondary years. Shirley received the majority of her secondary education in Miami, FL, while residing with her uncle and aunt William "Bill" and Lula Flowers. She graduated from Booker T. Washington High School in Miami, FL in 1962. Shirley continued her education as she matriculated to Florida A&M University. During her tenure at FAMU, she met her true love, Carmichael Clark, and later joined him in matrimony in 1965. To this union were born two daughters Carmichelle and Changalar. She continued her studies and - received her B.S. degree in nursing in 1967. After residing in Chicago, IL for a few years, she moved to Atlanta, GA in 1972 with her husband and two children . Early in her career, Shirley worked as a nurse in Labor and Delivery and .the Emergency Room. Shirley also worked as a Public Health nurse in Fulton County. In 1974, she joined the staff as a nursing instructor at Atlanta Area Technical School, preparing LPN students for employment in the health care profession. While at Atlanta Area Technical School, she earned a Masters Degree in Vocational and Career Development from Georgia State University in 1976. she also earned certification in Leadership in Vocational and Career Education. In 1997, she joined the Career Education Department with the Atlanta Public School System where she supervised career and technical education programs and managed the High Schools that Work project for all high schools. Shirley retired from the Atlanta Public Schools System in 2004. Shirley was a true Christian woman who accepted Christ at an early age. She joined St. Phillip AME Church in the early 1990s and was a member at the time of her death. Before her health declined, she served the Lord as an active member of the Health Ministry at the church. Shirley was known to all as a nurse and nurturer. She shared a love and knowledge of caring for others with her husband who is now a retired pharmacist. Moreover, Shirley may have been most well-known for the delicious meals and exotic dishes she prepared. Shirley served a wide-range of. delights from Soul Food to Seafood and everything in between. She cooked Sunday dinner for her children and grandchildren almost every Sunday up until just weeks before her transition. In between nurturing and cooking, Shirley and Carmichael found time to indulge in a passion for traveling . They traveled and cruised extensively throughout the Caribbean, the continental United States and Canada. She was an avid Atlanta Falcons fan and a season ticket holder, even traveling to New Orleans and Tampa Bay. Shirley may have been most proud of what she referred to as her "sack full" of grandchildren. She was known to her GRANDS and their friends as, "OMA". She spoiled them each in their own way. Shirley gave each of them the love they needed and was an active part of their lives, from attending dance performances at halftime of football games at Southwest Dekalb High School, trucking around the city to baseball and football games, attending singing performances including an all-state choir showcase, as well as, being front and center at school and t community programs. On June 13, 2013, Shirley left to cherish her memories: a loving and devoted husband of 48 years Carmichael Clark; two daughters Carmichelle Clark (Rock) and Chang Robbins (Brent); GRANDCHILDREN Cikylie, Chara, Champion, Cymone, Cyara, and Cana; GOD CHILDREN Colin Godfrey (Deanna), Rashan Smith (Brian), and Dannika Curry (Troy); one brother-in-law Clayton Clark Sr. of Tallahassee, FL (Theoria), two sisters-in-law Collen Clark Abidi, and Cybil Clark (Mike); uncle, Lorenza Wright of Titusville, FL, a host of nieces and nephews, four VERY SPECIAL FRIENDS, and loving relatives. e e ~~ OMA'S GRANDCHILDREN "I fiRs wlien me and O:Mfi use to sit on tlie porcli anddrinfttea." CANA (5 YEARS OLD) (ftnown to O:Mfi as Precious) "I {oved wlien O:Mfi use to maRs Cliristmas (])inner." CYARA (8 YEARS OLD) "I fiRs ma/{ing cfeficiousfruit pizza witli O:M_A. " CYMONE (10 'YEARS OLD) . ":Myfavorite memory witli O:Mfi was wlien I wouUgo up to lier room and tafftto lier. We couUta{fta6out anytliing." CHAMPION (12 YEARS OLD) "I {ovedwtien O::M)f_ andI use to snugg{e up under tier covers oftier 6ecfandwatcti Lifetime movies a{{day." CHARA (13 YEARS OLD) "::Myfavorite memory witli my O::Mfi is everytliing we did togetlier. I fiRs 6eing witli lier every second. " CIKYLIE (17 YEARS OLD) PROCESSIONAL Reverend Priscilla Adams, Worship Leader SELECTION .................................................................................Carolyn Early-Harrell Hymn Medley PRAYER............................................................................Reverend AnneMarie Mingo SCRIPTURES.......................................................................Reverend Clayton Clark, II The Old Testament, Psalm 23 . The New Testament, 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 e SELECTION ...........................................................................L'Tanya Moore-Copeland ((He Knows How Much You Can Bear " REFLECTIONS (Two Minutes, Please) Friend ............................................................................William "Buck" Godfrey God Child ...........................................................................Dannika Smith Curry 0 Nephew..................................................................................Cameron Gamble I God Child ................................................................................Rashan Ali Smith ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ....................................................Donald Trimble Mortuary Staff OBITUARY.............................................................................................Read Silently SELECTION ...........................................................................L'Tanya Moore-Copeland e _('Take Me to the King " EULOGY.............................................................................Reverend Carolyn Williams v RECESSIONAL 0 Kennedy Memorial Gardens e 2500 River Rd, Ellenwood, GA 30294 ~ Immediately following interment at Saint Philip AME Church Danielle Livingston . Juli Gilyard Velma Cooper Camille Zeigler Hattie Daniels Janice Gamble Colin Godfrey Cullen Mastin Chari Clark Colbert Mastin Robbie Cook Gayla Smith-Mitchell Carolyn Smith Joyce Godfrey Beverly Lemon-Angelou Rash an Ali Smith John Gamble Che Amed Abidi Clayton Clark, II William Troy Curry The family ofShirley Clark would like to express gratitude to all who showered us with love, presence and comforting words. We thank you for your prayers and taking the time to remember to celebrate her life. The many things you did to console our hearts will be remembered. cf7kcff~ dtwiN. by Ylw~ :bonalJ Clwnblt. a'110'duaty, {/ne. 1876 Second Avenue 1 Decatur, Georgia 30032 (404) 371..0772-3 CBerry 's Printing e:l qrapfiics (404) 663-6423 (678) 691-7851