Shirley Joanne Baptiste

A Memorial Service will be held for Shirley Baptiste, on Saturday, July 13, 2024 at 1:00 P.M., at Greater New Hope Baptist Church in Baldwin, LA.

The family will begin receiving guests on Saturday, July 13, 2024, at 12:00 P.M. at Greater New Hope Baptist Church in Baldwin, LA.

Shirley Joanne Baptiste was born October 2, 1952 in Oakland California. She was the oldest child and only daughter of Beverly Baptiste and the only child of her father, Willie Hopkins.

When Shirley was very young, her mother returned to Baldwin, La to the household of her parents, Reverend Curley E. and Regina Baptiste.  She became the "little sister" of her young aunts, and over time she would become the "big cousin" of her younger family members also being raised in the Baptiste household. Her upbringing constantly involved the love and guidance of generations of elders including great grandparents, great aunts and uncles, aunts, uncles and cousins and the "village" of her extended family and friends.

During her formative years, Shirley received the best Christian and moral upbringing that one could have. She was a member of Special Providence Baptist church, which her grandfather pastored, and attended church and Sunday school regularly in addition to participating in other community activities.  Her formal education was received at Sager Brown and Park Avenue High School, where she graduated in 1970.  During these years, Shirley made lifelong friendships and was surrounded by the love and companionship of her extensive family network, near and far.

In the early 1970's Shirley attended Southern University in Baton Rouge, LA., following in the footsteps of aunts who had attended before her.  There she blossomed, found her voice and opened her mind to the pressing social issues of the time,protesting social injustices and ushering in a new era of activism that was taking shape on college campuses around the country.  In 1974, Shirley graduated with a degree in business and began her professional career, which lasted over 30 years, culminating as a Supervisory Auditor at the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), in Atlanta, Georgia, where Shirley resided for many years.

In the early 1980's Shirley relocated to New Orleans for several years to care for her mother.  She was a dedicated daughter and devoted sister to her brothers Aaron and John.  After her mother's passing, Shirley resided in Los Angeles for a few years before returning to Atlanta.  Over the years, Shirley always stepped up to help family when she saw the opportunity.  She spent her final years in Lafayette, LA and spent quality time with some of her dearest friends and family before she departed this life on June 22, 2024.

Family was of utmost importance to Shirley.  Left to cherish her memory are her two aunts, Carrie Jackson (Maxie) and Betty Guy; God-daughters, Lori Jackson-Brock and Simone Price; special cousins, Julie Price, Sheila Pradia Williams, Pamela Shepherd, Morgan Thomas and Gwendolyn Robinson, and close friend Eva Davis who all contributed to her care during her protracted illness, and a host of loving family and friends, who kept the visits, calls, words of encouragement and other generous acts flowing.

Shirley was preceded in death by her parents; brothers, Aaron White and John Williams.

MK Dixon Funeral Home, 337-940-9253 , 211 Main Street, Baldwin, LA 70514.