On September 23, 1944, Shirley Jean Tucker was born to the late William and Mattie Tucker.  Shirley grew up in Lindale, TX where she received her education and graduated from Bragg Morris High School.  In search of better employment  opportunities, Shirley moved to Fort Worth, Texas where she worked for the Ben Hogan Company for over 15 years.  Shirley then worked as a nurse for the Oak Park Retirement Center until 2009 when she retired in order to spend more time with her family. 

During her early years in Fort Worth, Shirley joined the Greater Strangers Rest Missionary Baptist Church under the late Reverend R. W. West and served under Overseer R. E. West as an usher.   At a special time in her life, Shirley met the man whom she became acquainted through courtship.  Later she was asked by the late Chester Williams to become his lawfully wedded wife, and the two became one in the sight of God in Fort Worth, TX.  Shirley later joined Zion Missionary Baptist Church, where she was a faithful member who served on the Nurse’s Aide Committee and was part of the Dorcas Ruth Circle.

Shirley will be fondly remembered for her love and dedication to her family especially her grandchildren.  She worked tirelessly and diligently throughout her life to support her family.  She was a devoted wife, mother, grandmother, sister and friend. Shirley enjoyed spending time with family, taking care of others, and gardening. 

 On Wednesday, the tenth day of January, two-thousand eighteen, the Lord walked through the “Garden of Heaven” and found that He needed a pretty new flower for His garden. So he dispatched “Angels” to pick Shirley Jean Williams and traded her earthly body for her “New Heavenly Body”.  Shirley found waiting in Heaven her husband, Chester Williams; her mother and father, William & Mattie (Bostic) Tucker; her brothers William Tucker, Jr., T.J. Tucker, and Earl Gene Tucker; and her sisters Ozella White, Elester Williams, and Emma Johnson.

She leaves to cherish her loving memory her two sisters, Willie Pearl Hobbs and Billy Faye Slater; three sons Ronald Gene Tucker (Roxann and grandchildren, Ashley McKenzie, Ebony Thomas, and Ronald Alexander Tucker); Maalik D. Najee (Nadia and grandchildren, Islam Najee, Miyoshia Najee, Jordan Najee, and Osiris Najee); Reginald L. Tucker; and daughter, Mellissa Denise  (Rondrick Franklin and grandson, Huxley A. Franklin); and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.