Shirley Porter Washington, a retired educator, small business owner, and published author, passed away on May 2, 2019, at St. Rose Dominican Hospitals - San Martin, Dignity Health, Las Vegas, Nevada. After a three week stay in the hospital and rehab facility, she passed away in her sleep to join her late husband in heaven in the presence of her four children due to old age.
She was born on 1234, that is, January 2, 1934, in New Orleans, Louisiana, to the late Elmore Porter and Clyde “Mother” Porter. She was married to the late Edward Reed Washington, and had one younger sister – Peggy Porter Charbonnet.
Shirley attended and graduated from Xavier University Preparatory High School (May 23, 1950) and Xavier University of Louisiana (May 26, 1954), where she pledged Delta Sigma Theta Sorority (December 6, 1951). After attending Loyola University of New Orleans, she received a Master of Education degree (August 14, 1964).
Shirley was a teacher in the New Orleans Public School system, and finished her career there as a guidance counselor. Afterwards, she opened a daycare center where she was adamant that her students be more than prepared when they matriculated to elementary school.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Edward Reed Washington.
She is survived by her daughters Verel W. Thaxton (Tony) and Monetta W. Henson (Robert); sons Edward Reed Washington, III and Elmore Porter Washington (Janine); sister Peggy Porter Charbonnet (Joel). She is also served by her loving grandchildren Ashley E. Evans, Kelsey K. Evans, Tony Z. Thaxton, Phillip L. Washington, Edward R. Washington, IV, Peyton S. Washington, Hayden S. Washington, and a host of other relatives and friends.
Family was her first love as reflected by her research of family to create family trees through discussions with relatives near and far, and later through the use of computers, internet search, and even online DNA results. To that end, based on expert handwriting analysis and research at the Amistad Center for Research and Culture, she published a book -- Countee Cullen's Secret Revealed by Miracle Book: A Biography of His Childhood in New Orleans. In that book, Shirley relates the story of his childhood in New Orleans, and proved by expert handwriting analysis she obtained, that Countee Cullen was actually her Great Uncle. She gives her interpretation and explains how many of his poems were based on his youth in New Orleans before running away from home.
Her generosity to family and her favorite causes – animal welfare, and black causes – Xavier University, the National African-American History Museum, among others, was constant and consistent throughout her life.
Shirley will be sorely missed, but she will no longer miss her husband Edward who she has now joined in heaven.
