Shirley was born in Kurthwood, LA on August 23, 1936 to Charles and Nettie Nash. She graduated from Provencal High School in 1954 and worked as a bookkeeper in Lake Charles, LA. There she met her first husband Ralph L. Dillon, Jr; they were married from 1956 until Ralph’s passing in 1964. On October 12, 1964, Shirley met the true love of her life, Edward Graham, and on May 22, 1965 they were married in Chapel One at Barksdale Air Force Base, and were married for 28 years until his passing July 23, 1993.
Besides bookkeeping, Shirley was also an over-the-road truckdriver and covered many, many miles in the cab of an eighteen-wheeler with Edd. After Edd’s passing, she returned to bookkeeping for several years before retirement. Shirley was a devoted member of First Baptist Church of Haughton and loved her Sunday School class and the Seniors group. She was involved with Eastern Star for several years with her oldest sister Maggie, and was a charter member of the Bodacious Benton Belles chapter of the Red Hat Society. She loved playing Pokeno with her friends, reading, attending church services and activities, and researching her family tree. More than anything, Shirley loved her family and spent as much time as possible with them. Holiday gatherings were always a joyous time with her family.
Shirley was preceded in death by: her parents Charles and Nettie Nash; husbands, Ralph L. Dillon Jr (USAF) and Edward B. Graham (USAF); twin sons, Jeffrey Wayne and Gregory Lee Dillon and son Gary A. Dillon (USArmy, Retired); great-great grandson, Landon Banks; daughter-in-law, Margaret Dillon; brothers, Gary Nash, Carl Nash, and Charles Nash Jr; sisters, Maggie Isgitt, Bobbie Moss, Pauline Williams, and Sandra Hilton.
She is survived by: her children, Brenda Graham Hicks and son-in-law Jeff, Glenda Graham Wilson, Christy Dillon Goerbig and son-in-law Ed, Debbie Graham Kirby and son-in-law David, daughter-in-law Traudel Dillon, William Dillon, and David Dillon and daughter-in-law Sharon; 26 grandchildren, 38 great-grandchildren, and seven great-great-grandchildren; sisters, Patsy Franklin and Connie Hilton; a host of nieces and nephews, and a multitude of loving friends.
Serving as pallbearers are: her grandsons, Justin Hicks, Carl Graham, Dirk Hien, Roger Dillon, Billy Dillon, and “Little David” Dillon. Honorary pallbearers are: Louis Williams, Rusty Craig, and Joey Hilton.
Visitation will be Friday August 21, 2020 at 5:00-6:00 PM for family and 6:00-8:00 PM for friends at Hillcrest Memorial Funeral Home. Funeral services will be held at Saturday August 22, 2020 at 1:30 PM at First Baptist Church of Haughton, followed by graveside services at Hill Crest Memorial Park.
“The family wishes to thank the nurses and staff of Willis-Knighton Bossier’s Emergency Room and the fourth floor step-down unit, and her physicians Atilla Balogh, MD and Sachin Thorat, MD for the kind and compassionate care they gave our mother.”
