Shirley M Hill

Shirley M. Hill was born in Harlem, New York on August 2nd, 1946 to parents Thomas F. Hill and Delia Spivey Hill. On that day, an immeasurable light entered the world. She was the 2nd daughter out of five siblings, with only one surviving sister left, Dyanne. Shirley was raised in a quiet, tree-lined street in Harlem. She attended and graduated from George Washington High School in Manhattan. Years later, she attended and graduated with a B.S. Degree from Goddard College. While in New York, Shirley worked at various corporate law firms as a legal secretary. She spent her early life chasing the money, but then had a spiritual awakening and shifted her life to make an impact on the world. She did a yoga teacher training at Kripalu, and then became a Hatha Yoga teacher for seniors. Shirley was someone who unapologetically lived her life HER WAY. At 66 years old, she graduated with a Bachelor's Degree, wrote a book, and taught yoga to seniors all across New York City and Westchester County. Her son Jason was born in 1985. She loved being a mom and Jason was her main reason for working hard and striving to give him what she didn't have. She sent him to the best private schools in Manhattan and boarding schools in Connecticut. As a struggling single mom, she had no idea how she was going to make it happen, but she DID IT. That was the thing about Shirley. When her back was up against a wall, she ALWAYS found a way to pull through. When faced with a challenge, Shirley didn't just survive... she THRIVED. As a working class mom, she managed to give her son Jason the best education in the world and send him to Europe. She always sacrificed her needs to show him that as a little Black boy, he could dream BIG and experience all the joys in the world. In 2016, Shirley's world changed forever. As a lifetime New Yorker, she went to visit Jason in Los Angeles and absolutely fell in love with Southern California. A couple of months later, she was on a one-way flight to LA to soak up the sunshine and be with the yogis and healers. During her time in LA, she partied her butt off with the LGBTQ community, and couldn't resist hitting on every single tall, handsome gay man she came across. They were always flattered, because Shirley, as an NYC fashionista, always wanted a well-dressed man on her arm. Often Jason would bring her to parties and then be like "WHERE IS MY MOM?" But Jason knew... just look for the most beautiful gay men in the room, and Shirley would be close by. In 2018, Shirley visited her sister Dyanne in Las Vegas. Because Vegas had such a vibrant and active 55 community, Shirley decided to stay there. Fashion was Shirley's one true love. While living in Las Vegas, she worked various part-time retail jobs to stay busy and to stay young. Some of these jobs were at The Love Store, Deja Vu, Vegas Wholesale Beauty Supplies, Dreamgirls of Las Vegas, Dillards and Off Broadway Shoes. Shirley was the most vibrant and loving woman in the world. Many people have gathered to share their memories of her. The common themes that come up are: her incredible hugs, her intoxicating smile, her radiant love, and her absolute zest for life. Shirley may have been 77, but she had the energy of a 27 year old, which is why she had a FULL community of people in their 20s and 30s that absolutely LOVED her. She would always tell Jason that she had tons of children spread out across New York, Los Angeles and Las Vegas. Shirley touched so many lives with her smile, friendship, caring and kindness. The two words to best describe Shirley are LOVE and FAMILY. Shirley radiated love everywhere she went, and she touched people's hearts so so deeply. She also had an incredible gift of creating FAMILY wherever she went. She absolutely loved and cherished her own family, and also created beautiful chosen families at Goddard College, Kripalu Yoga, The Love Store, Off Broadway, the Sahara Library, and among many others in her path. Shirley's blood family and chosen family will miss her so much. She leaves to mourn her passing and cherish her memories: her son, Jason; her sister Dyanne; her cousins Rudie, Connie, Frank and Susan; her East Coast Posse, Phyllis, Joyce, Cheryl and Anita; her West Coast Posse, Hazel, Sandra, Karin, Elieen, Erika, Randy and Heather. There are many other friends and neighbors who will mourn the loss of Shirley's bright and loving spirit. "You never realize the significance of the moment until it becomes a memory..." Rest in Peace Shirley. We love you.

Shirley M Hill

August 2, 1946 - February 24, 2024