Shirley was born December 11, 1926 in New Bedford, Massachusetts and passed away on October 2, 2018 in Shreveport, Louisiana. She was preceded in death by her parents, Max Schneider and Esther Schneider nee Levi, as well as her husband James Harold “Jim” Benedict. She is survived by one son, Roderick Lewellyn of San Francisco, CA and two daughters, Darcy Benedict of Thousand Oaks, CA and Tracey Anderson of Bossier City, LA.
Shirley grew up in New Bedford and as a young woman, moved to New York City. There, she met her future husband James while working at his family’s furniture and carpet store. They fell in love and were married in 1949.
Shirley and James spent several years living in Plainview, NY raising a young family. In 1963, the family headed out to California. She spent the next fifty plus years in the southern California area living in Covina, Pasadena, Tarzana and Agoura Hills.
In 1975, Jim and Shirley founded "The Bookaneer", a used bookstore in Reseda, which they operated until 2001.
In 2016 she moved with her daughter Tracey and son in law to Shreveport, LA.
Shirley was kind, generous and deeply loved her family. She will be missed by those who knew and loved her.