Shirley Louise Samuels (neé Patterson) was born August 22, 1930 in Cleveland, Ohio. She was the only child to parents Herman and Minnie Patterson. Shirley went to lower school in Cleveland and graduated from the Philadelphia High School for Girls. She met her late husband Charles Samuels in her hometown and the two married blissfully in 1949. This union produced 6 children — Cheryl Lynne, Janet Marie, Charles Jr, Douglas Raymell, Kevin Mark, and Danita Jo. 

Shirley was a God-fearing woman, attending church regularly at Apostolic Church of God in Christ well into her senior years. She was a member of the Order of the Eastern Star and worked many jobs in her life—just a couple include being a crossing guard for the City of Chicago and working at Speigel’s until she retired in 1993. Shirley was a doting matriarch, raising six lovely children and seeing the birth of dozens of grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and even great-great-grandchildren. She was an integral part of all of their lives. Shirley is survived by her children Janet, Douglas, Mark, and Danita and a host of grandchildren. Shirley was predeceased by her children Cheryl and Charles, Jr.