Former First Lady of Celestial Baptist Church Shirley W. Boone, 83, answered the Lord’s Call on Wednesday, September 16, 2020.

Shirley W. Boone was born July 24, 1937 in Scotland Neck, North Carolina to the late Willie Williams and Emma Clark Williams. She had seven younger brothers that she raised as sons, Joe Louis Williams, Raymond Earl Williams, Melvin Douglas Williams, Danford Lee Williams, Alastair Wardell Williams and a younger sister, Lavoris Williams Pearson, whom she took care of as well. She had an older brother and younger sister, the late Walter Lee Williams and Mary Francis Williams, that predeceased her while they lived in North Carolina.

Her family moved in 1944 to Portsmouth, Virginia to Carver’s Park in the Mount Hermon community. Shirley attended I. C. Norcom High School. The Williams family were members of Third Baptist Church under the leadership of the late Pastor C.H. Jordan. While living in Carver’s Park she met the love of her life, the late Reverend Leon Jackson Boone. She loved her some “Leon.” On February 21, 1958, Shirley and Leon were united in Holy Matrimony and to this union, two beautiful children were born, Arnitra Yvette Boone and Shelby Marie Boone. She was a loving and devoted wife and mother. Always a wise, compassionate, caring, loving woman of God. Shirley worked at The Circle Restaurant, Moseberth’s, and for 20 years she worked for General Electric and retired from there. While working there she was known for being the first to come into work and the last to leave out. Never missing a day of work.

Shirley served faithfully alongside her husband, Reverend Leon Jackson Boone, at Celestial Baptist Church as he was elected interim pastor on January 18, 1977 to then becoming the pastor in November of 1977. She was the First Lady of Celestial Baptist Church for thirty-five years. Her roles in ministry included: membership in the deaconess board, gospel choir, pastor’s aid, senior usher board and served twice as the chairperson for Women’s Day at the church. She also served as the head cook at the Celestial Baptist Church Family Daycare. Shirley loved country and gospel music. During the football season she loved watching the Washington Football Team (Washington Redskins) play. Cam Newton and Russell Wilson were two of her favorite football players. In her earlier years she enjoyed working in her yard planting the most gorgeous flowers. Her cooking skills were unmatched. She could teach head chef, Gordon Ramsay, a thing or two in the kitchen. Shirley enjoyed reading in her spare time. When entering church on Sunday’s she would be known as a fashionista from her wearing marvelous hats and suits. She has devoted her life to being a good person who wants to please God. Because of her faith in God, she has placed the welfare of her family before her own desires. Thus she was an awesome, supportive wife and mother. The family is blessed that God gave to them this virtuous woman. She has made a difference in their lives.

Shirley W. Boone was preceded in death by her parents, Willie Williams and Emma Clark Williams; her husband, Reverend Leon Jackson Boone; her mother in law, Mozell Boone and her father in law, John Thomas Knight; four brothers, Walter Lee Williams, Joe Louis Williams, Raymond Earl Williams, and Danford Lee Williams; and two sisters, May Francis Williams and Lavoris Williams Pearson. She leaves to cherish and celebrate her legacy, her two daughters, Arnitra Boone DeBerry (Moran Billups, III) and Shelby Marie Boone; two brothers, Melvin Douglas Williams (Doris) and Alastair Wardell Williams (Charlene); four grandchildren, Tawanna Stancil Boone, Bobby DeBerry, Jr., Ronald Leon Boone, III, and Leon Jackson Boone IV; great-grandchildren, Alexis Yvette Stancil,  Jalah Marie Stancil, Jalen Leon Stancil, Markel Leon Hill, Kamari Leon DeBerry, India Gatling, Bobby DeBerry, III, Teigen DeBerry and Ra’Niya Marie Boone; nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.