Shirley Mae Elugbadebo

Obituary

Shirley Mae English Elugbadebo

Sunrise: 10 January 1938 Sunset: 13 September 2025

Shirley Mae English was born January 10, 1938 in Carbondale, Illinois to Leroy English and Laura Eddington. During her youth, she was often found helping her Dad at his Barbecue Stand. Shirley married Charles Fitzgerald Summers, Sr. Together they raised three children, Larry Eugene English, Sheila Danette English, and Charles Fitzgerald Summers, Jr.

Shirley loved God. She was a mother, grandmother, and great grandmother. She was a housewife and over the years also worked as a housekeeper, CNA, and babysitter. Shirley enjoyed reading her Bible, putting together puzzles, listening to music, sewing, and helping people when she could. Life was sometimes a struggle as it is with many of us. Still, it was her life. She held her head up, kept a smile always, and made the best of it. She was proud.

One year, there was a really bad winter storm in Carbondale. Sheila was unable to contact her Mom for many hours. It was extremely stressful. When she finally connected with her Mom, she learned that her Mom had been lying in the bathtub for safety. Sheila declared at that point that her Mom would come to live with her. Shirley did not want to leave her residence but conceded. She joined her daughter in Los Angeles, California and the two had been living together since that incident in 2010. Wanting to leave the city for quiet, the family moved to Ridgecrest to 2017.

Shirley is preceded in death by her parents, Leroy English and Laura Eddington; two sons, Larry Eugene English and Charles Fitzgerald Summers; sisters, Etta Kelly and Jean Helen Gibbs; brothers, Leroy William English, Frank English, and Lawrence Greer; step-son, Duane Cesar Edwards; and step grandson, Duane Edwards, Jr.

She is survived by her daughter, Sheila English of Ridgecrest, California; brothers, Charles Sam Greer (Gloria) and Clayton Greer (Verlena), both of Carbondale, Illinois; sister, Joan Greer of Springfield, Illinois; grandson, Larry English of Porter Ranch, California; step-grandsons, Dion Bowman and Jamon Edwards, both of Ridgecrest, California; granddaughters, Monica Clarisse Jacinto of Bartlett, Tennessee and Shaniya Ambition Danette Edwards of Ridgecrest, California; two great granddaughters; one great grandson; and a host of nieces, nephews, and grand and great nieces and nephews, cousins, and friends.

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