Shirley Ridley Butler

Shirley R. Butler was born in New Orleans, Louisiana, on August 21, 1922. She was the second of 13 children, and was the oldest daughter of a family consisting of six girls and seven boys. In her position as the oldest female daughter, she often took on the role of an additional parent to her younger siblings, making sure everyone had clean clothes and looked presentable, and generally acted as protector of her younger siblings.

While growing up in New Orleans, Shirley’s parents were devoted Baptist Christians, but they began to attend a tent effort held by the pastor of the Seventh-day Adventist Church there. They attended the nightly meetings which resulted in the acceptance of the Seventh-day Adventist message. Shirley was baptized into the church, along with her parents, and two of her brothers.

Shirley graduated from high school as salutatorian of her class, and began to attend Southern University in Baton Rouge. She left Louisiana, however, to pursue a career in government, and moved to Washington, D.C. There, she joined the Ephesus Seventh-day Adventist Church, became a member of the choir, and actively participated in many of the activities of the church. It was through this church affiliation and a preceding courtship consisting of correspondence through letters, that she met her husband, John Davis Butler. They were married on March 9, 1947, and were blessed with two children: a daughter, Ann Patrice, and a son, John Davis Jr.

Shortly after the birth of their daughter, the couple moved to Palo Alto, California, where John pursued doctoral studies at Stanford University. It was while there at Stanford, that their son, John Davis Jr. was born. The family then moved to Angwin, California, where John taught at Pacific Union College for three years, after which the family moved back to Washington, D.C., so they could be near his aging father.

It was during the young family’s stay in Washington shortly after the birth of their daughter Ann, that Shirley began sending money back to her family in Louisiana every month. She did this with an accompanying hand written note, and with the blessing and encouragement of her husband. This monthly gift of love provided subsistence for her younger siblings at a time when it was greatly needed and not otherwise available. Shirley never discussed this or expected any recognition or payment for her faithful stewardship towards her family.

In Washington, Shirley worked as an administrative assistant for the Bureau of Labor Statistics, in the Office of Management and Budget. During her 40 year government career, she received numerous special achievement awards, including a Distinguished Career Service Award presented to her by the Secretary of Labor at the time.

After the family moved to Washington, Shirley and John were among the first African Americans to join the Sligo Seventh- day Adventist Church. In 2000, she and her husband were also among the founding members of what would become Reaching Hearts International Seventh-day Adventist church. Modest and reserved in personality, Shirley was characterized by a strong penchant for doing things right, believing in doing whatever she did for the glory of God. She had a keenly developed sense of creativity and aesthetics and was particularly adept at sewing, decorating, and artistic propriety.

Shirley’s greatest joys were realized in service to others, especially her husband and their children. Shirley was kind, loving, patient, and particularly dedicated to her family. She insisted on the highest standards of behavior and achievement, and she worked indefatigably to do all she could to ensure the success of her family.

Most notably, Shirley was a devout Christian who loved the Lord. Prayer was a way of life for her. Along with the love and appreciation of her family, it was her steadfast faith in her Savior Jesus Christ and His word that sustained her in life’s trials, and provided her greatest joy.

Shirley passed away peacefully in her sleep in the early morning hours of March 19, 2018. She is survived by her daughter, Ann Canas, her son John Butler Jr. (Grace Butler), and her two granddaughters, Haley Ann, and Lauren Elise. She is also survived by her sisters Melba, Beverly, and Brenda, and her brothers Thomas, Samuel, Bland, and Gerald.