Shirley H. Eggleston

It is not easy to migrate from a small rural area in Amherst, Virginia to the big city and state of Upland, California but Shirley Deloris Hutcherson Eggleston did just that with her husband, Twyman Payton Eggleston, and their daughter, Pamela Sonya Eggleston. Shirley and her family had a great life in California. She did not leave any of her family traditions in Virginia nor the things that her mother and father taught her. They taught her how to manage a house and how to grow and preserve food. Shirley grew vegetables in her garden, and she made various types of jellies from her fruit trees. Shirley was a very generous person, so she shared her jellies with friends and neighbors. She regularly sent lemons, oranges, and jellies to her family on the East Coast. On Saturday, July 15, 2023, after a brief illness, Shirley Deloris Hutcherson Eggleston peacefully passed away in her home at the age of 86. Shirley was born on November 11, 1936, in Amherst, Virginia. She was the second to the oldest of four girls born in the loving household of Jesse Lewis and Othella (Moore) Hutcherson. She became a member of First Baptist Church, Coolwell Virginia at an early age. Shirley was a very fisty Hutcherson girl who did things her way but there was no question if she was going to college after high school because her mom and dad had made that discussion for all their children before birth. The only question was where they would be attending. With Shirley’s oldest sister already attending a four-year college, Shirley opted to go to Virginia Seminary College in Lynchburg, Virginia to complete two years of college before transferring to Virginia State University, Petersburg Virginia where she received a bachelor’s degree in business education. It was at Virginia State University where she met and married her husband, Twyman Payton Eggleston in September 1958 and was lovingly married to him for 47 years prior to his death in 2005. After graduation and teaching experience in Fairfax, Virginia, Shirley, Twyman and their daughter, made their home in Bridgeport, Connecticut. Shirley taught Business Education at a local high School while completing a master’s degree at the University of Connecticut. Shirley’s father and mother were overjoyed with her accomplishment because Shirley was not a big fan of going to school. She just wanted to prove that she could do whatever she wanted to do and to make her parents proud. After living in Connecticut for 13 years, Twyman (Shirley’s husband) job transferred him to California. They were welcomed into the community and Shirley became a faithful member of Foothill Bible Church and its bible study group. She gained many friends in her community that she enjoyed having lunch and shopping dates trips. She also became a teacher in the Upland Unified School District. Shirley loved being in California and having fresh fruit in her back yard, but she also missed her family on the East Coast. At Christmas time, Shirley and her family gathered with her other sisters and parents in Virginia. Later, Christmas was rotated among the homes of her sibling, so Shirley hosted it every four years. Occasionally Shirley traveled to the East Coast in the summer or joined her sisters on different trips. Christmas was always special, and the Christmas tree was always covered with presents. Shirley would always say, “we need to cut back”, but we never did. Shirley loved to play cards, visit with friends, and listen to R&B. She listened to R&B all the time including listening while going to sleep. Her home was always filled with music. Shirley was very happy being a mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother. She was proud of her family’s accomplishments, and she supported all their endeavors. Shirley was preceded in death by her husband, Twyman, her sister Clarice Hutcherson Ridley, Barbara Hutcherson Parks, and her parents, Jesse Lewis and Othella Moore Hutcherson. Shirley is survived by her loving daughter, Pamela Eggleston Knott; sister, Patricia H. Dillard, Ed. d (Virginia Beach, Virginia); her loving and compassionate granddaughter, Jessica Knott Armstrong; and Victoria Knott, Esquire (Houston, Texas); great-grand son, the apple of her eye, Elijah Armstrong, great-grand daughter, London Armstrong, and Mia Armstrong; Godchild and nephew, Robert Dillard, Jr, Esquire; niece, Nicole C. Dillard, Esquire; and Lena Turner; Son-in-law, Reginal Knott and Robert Dillard, MD (Virginia Beach, VA.) and a host of family and friends. Shirley was a giving person who would light up a room when she walked in. She supported the church that she grew up in and the church in Upland, California. She gave to those in need, she made the world a better place for her family and will be greatly missed.