Shirley Anne Harrell Raymond

Shirley H. Raymond GREENVILLE - Shirley Anne Harrell Raymond, 78, died Aug. 29, 2008. Mrs. Raymond, a native of Portsmouth, was employed with Portsmouth Naval Shipyard for more than 12 years as a tool room manager. During her service with the shipyard, she participated in the restoration of the USS America and its recovery. Later, she was employed with AARP as a job placement specialist. For the past eight years, Mrs. Raymond had been a residen of Greenville and during that time attended Pitt Community College and received her CNA certificate to provide health care to the elderly, working with Silvercare of Greenville. Mrs. Raymond was preceded in death by her parents, William and Jesse Harrell and sister, Betty Harrell Whitehead. She is survived by her sons, Richard E. Raymond II and wife Dianne of Greenville and Todd Harrell Raymond of Fredericksburg, Va.; daughter, Sherry Ruggiero of Brooklyn, N.Y.; grandchildren, Steven Ruggiero and wife Liza of Fort Hood, Texas, Alexander Ruggiero and Anna Ruggiero, both of Rocky Hill, Conn.; brothers, Talmadge Harrell and wife Gerry of Virginia Beach, Thomas Harrell and wife Candy of Tennessee and Don Harrell of San Diego, Calif.; brother-in-law, Newell Whitehead of Portsmouth. Shirley loved to laugh and make others laugh. She was a caring and warm-hearted lady. She was a hard worker and always gave 100 percent at any task she undertook. She loved music, fine art, poetry and was an avid reader. She graduated from Woodrow Wilson High School and, as young woman, lived in Washington, D.C., and had many exciting jobs and adventures. Of all the accomplishments in her life, she was most proud of being a mother to her children and always putting their needs first. The family will receive friends Friday from 6 to 8 p.m. in Wilkerson Funeral Home in Greenville. A memorial service will be conducted Saturday at 4 p.m. in the chapel of the funeral home.