Shirley Lavon Lindsay-Williamson

Shirley Lavon Crawford was born in Okolona, Mississippi on September 6, 1931 to Arthur and Bettie Crawford, the seventh of eight children. She accepted Christ at an early age and was baptized at the Chapel Grove Baptist Church in Okolona, MS.

In December 1944, she moved with her family from Okolona, Mississippi to Kansas City, Missouri. She graduated from R.T. Coles High School and furthered her education in cosmetology, becoming a licensed cosmetologist. She opened her own beauty salon from her home.

Shirley had other careers, which included nurse’s aide, laboratory assistant, preschool teacher, foster care parent and homemaker. Her hobbies were reading, playing piano for the Sunday School, and enjoying all types of music.

Shirley married Nelson Huntley Lindsay on May 20, 1950. They had two daughters, Lanell and Linda. Shirley and Nelson divorced in 1956, then remarried in 1971, and moved to Rialto, California where they lived happily until he became ill and preceded her in death February 1, 1989.

In 1991, she married Arthur Williamson and moved back to Kansas City, MO. Arthur preceded her in death August 14, 2015. To be closer to her daughters and family, Shirley moved back to Rialto, CA where she would live the remaining of her days.

She attended Rubidoux Missionary Baptist Church, Riverside, CA. until her health started to decline. She indulged in televised ministries every Sunday.

She was a kind, selfless and giving person who cared for others. She was always willing to lend a listening ear and give advice when asked.

She died peacefully on January 9, 2021.

She is preceded in death by her parents, Arthur and Bettie Crawford, her sisters, Mildred Brown, Vernell Walker, Bettie Fowler, Opal Taylor, Maxine Fuller, and brother Warren Crawford. She is survived by one sister, Chonita Gibson of Cape Girardeau, MO.

She leaves to cherish her memory, her two daughters, Lanell Frazier (Billy) of San Bernardino CA., and Linda McCorkle of Rialto, CA., nine grandchildren Kimberly Robinson, Marcus Robinson, Katesh Robinson, Kanika Roberts (Judah), Lisa Burkett (Edwin), Eugene McCorkle (Regina), Elliott McCorkle, Edmund McCorkle (April), Lauren Floyd (Earl), 34 great-grandchildren, 22 great-great grandchildren, a host of nieces, nephews and friends, all of whom will miss her deeply.