Obituary of Shirley P. Jackson

Shirley P. Jackson was born in Wake County, North Carolina on January 24, 1946, the daughter of the late Frank T. and Juanita P. Sutton.  She transitioned from her earthly home to her heavenly home on Sunday, November 3, 2019. 

Shirley received her early education from Fuquay Consolidated High School where she graduated salutatorian of her class in 1964. Later she relocated to Delaware from North Carolina.  She worked full-time as a day care provider at Price Run Child Center, Accounts Payable Representative with Speakman Company, and substitute teacher in the Colonial School District.  During her time at Price Run Child Center in 1977, she decided to return to college full-time while working part-time and raising her two children.  She enrolled at Delaware State College (currently Delaware State University) where she earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Accounting and Business Administration and graduated cum laude in 1980. Subsequently, Shirley retired from Christiana Care Health Services in August 2003 after 19 years as an Accountant in their Finance Department.  Shirley was passionate about making and reaching goals. She always strived for something new to reach for in life and never backed down to a challenge.

Shirley has been a long-standing member of Mt. Missionary Baptist Church for over 47 years.  She was very active in her church always proclaiming she was just a servant of God.  Shirley served on the Trustee Board as Financial Secretary from 1988 to 2007.  Shortly thereafter, Shirley took time off to care for her mother.  In 2015 she was asked to serve as the Vice-Chairperson of the Trustee Ministry. In 2016 she became the first female to be Chairperson of Mt. Sinai Missionary Baptist Church Trustee Ministry.  She also served as Vice-President of the Missionary Ministry as well as other ministry roles over the years; Youth Choir Director, Senior Usher, Senior Warrior, and sang on the Praise and Worship Team, The Voices and Senior Choir. Singing and serving was her passion and she was admired for her unique soprano voice.

Shirley was extremely dedicated and committed to Mt. Sinai ministry and business activities as well as giving to others.  She was very creative and had an excellent spirit and did assigned tasks all to the glory of God, including serving as Chairperson of Mt. Sinai’s 50th Anniversary Celebration Committee in 2013.

Shirley loved reading, crossword puzzles, designing and creating things, decorating, and collecting angels and eagles.

Shirley’s greatest loves and passion was raising her children and seeing them grow into adults and soar like eagles.

Shirley was preceded in death by her parents the late Frank T. Sutton and Juanita P. Sutton and beloved brother Bobby E. Sutton.

Shirley leaves to cherish her memories, a son and daughter Christopher R. Partin (Charisse) of Middletown, DE and Tamera P. Jones (Warren) of Middletown, DE; Two Grandchildren, Christopher J. Partin of Alpharetta, GA and Angelica C. Partin of Clinton, MD; Two God children, Correy A. Brown of Bear, DE and Richard A. Sutton, Jr. of Bear, DE; Two brothers, William M. Jackson, Sr. (Claudia) of New Castle, DE and Richard A. Sutton, Sr. of Bear, DE; Two sisters Geraldine M. Watson of Wilmington, DE and Sarah L. Brown (Marion) of New Castle, DE.

She also leaves a host of family members and dear friends: Verna L. Pierce, Janie Brown, Olivia Stallings, and Trudie Smith whom she affectionally called “Ma Trudie”.