Shirley Jean Graham

The Angels have called our mom. Shirley Jean (Hood)Graham was born in Streator Illinois on the 16th of August 1950. She was the daughter of two loving predeceased parents; Roosevelt Hood, and Francis (Drinkwater) Hood. Our family lost a matriarch on March 6, 2019, but heaven gained a guardian angel who will serve with a loving touch. Shirley was a warrior in many aspects of her life. She battled and beat kidney cancer in 1991 and conquered a brain tumor in 2005, survived a heart attack in 2017 and tirelessly fought high blood pressure and obesity. She kept her spirits up, her hopes high and her faith solid! Recently, she aggressively took on an unexpected battle with pancreatic cancer and surrendered only to God’s loving hands. She took her last breath not quite one year after losing her daughter, Damita in March of 2018. Heaven welcomes a loving mother of four children. Two daughters preceding her in death; Gerri Janette Jaynes (April 1967) and Damita Janelle Graham (March 2018). She is survived by two sons; Carter Jaynes Sr. and Isaac Graham III., and two daughters-in-law: Tiesha Piper Graham and Zoraida Jaynes. Shirley was known for her kindness and generosity, even when doing so was a hardship for her. She freely and frequently gave second chances and opportunities to her friends and loved ones. With love of family first, Shirley even postponed her education for the sake of her children, obtaining her GED a decade after leaving Streator High School. She would stop at nothing to be a full-time provider for her then only child, Carter. That commitment sometimes entailed sacrificing time with him by sending him to reside with his grandparents on holidays and summers until she was financially and educationally stable. She continued to work hard to provide for all her children. She was employed most of her adult life, spending forty-three years with Kraft-Nabisco. Shirley’s personal sacrifices and investments in her children paid off. Both of her sons work for the US Government via the US Postal Service, and Carter now works for the Department of Defense after retiring from active duty from the US Army. Retiring in 2005, she set off to spend the rest of her days doing what she loved the most: traveling to tropical islands, baking cakes, working out for fitness, shopping, Chicago steppin’, her annual luncheon with her classmates from Streator, IL, and attending various churches. She recently joined the Live Oak Baptist Church in New Braunfels, Texas. Spending time with her grandchildren was a constant pleasure. Shirley was feverishly involved in her political interests. She had a wealth of experiences as a result of being raised during the Civil Rights Era. She remained both socially and politically acute. She was always telling her children to work hard and that nothing comes free. She was a master of tough love measured with a soft loving hand. She was stern and pragmatic. She was a tireless fighter and always saw things through. She taught, through modeling for her boys, to always finish what you start. She often channeled her life through the lyrics of her favorite singer and songwriter, Aretha Franklin. Shirley loved music ranging from soft rock in the morning to the Funkadelics in the afternoon, to Anita Baker in the evening. She passed this love of music down to her children as well. She loved to cook and was a good cook. When you came to her home, there was always a home cooked meal. After Damita’s untimely demise and Isaac relocation to another state, Shirley headed south to get away from the Midwest’s brutal winters. She sold her home in Riverdale and moved to New Braunfels, TX, near her oldest son and his family. Shirley Jean Graham and all her loving ways will surely be missed. Shirley endured more than a fair share of pain and suffering, but now she is at peace with her loved ones in heaven while watching and guarding over her ever-growing earthly family. Shirley no longer has to fight. The battles are over and she sits as a distinguished warrior in God’s hands. Shirley was blessed with six grandchildren from her two sons: named in order of age: Myles, Carter Jr. (18), Candace Jaynes (17), Marvin (14), Isaac IV (14), and Caasi Aniece Faye Graham (9). Shirley also leaves behind two brothers; Gregory Hood, and Eddie Hood, and a sister, Rose (Hood)Wilder, and a host of nieces and nephews. Shirley also leaves a host of friends from Streator, IL, Kraft-Nabisco and various neighborhoods, churches and clubs with whom she affiliated. Although she left us way too soon, she left knowing that her two sons were doing well and would carry out her legacy of hard work and dedication to family first.