Obituaries

Shirley Page was born June 30, 1946, she was the fourth of eight children to George Richard Hardy, Sr. and Ethel Mae Hardy in Dundee, Mississippi. She is preceded in death by her parents, her husband; Earnest Page, a loving son; Darrell Hardy, Sr., three brothers; Homer Hardy, Eugene Hardy, Sr., George Hardy, Jr., a sister; Dorothy Andrews, a sister-in-law; Sherri Hardy, a niece; Sharon Andrews, two nephews; Bryan Hardy, Eric Hardy, two special cousins; Earl Kinnard and Talmus Kinnnard.

Shirley accepted Christ at an early age at Mount Olive Missionary Baptist Church, Dundee Mississippi.

Shirley graduated in 1964 from Rosa Fort High School, Tunica Mississippi. She furthered her education at Coahoma Community College, Clarksdale Mississippi. She pursued her passions of early childhood development and caring for the sick. For a short period of time she was the school nurse for Rosa Fort High School. She later went on to become a Head Start Teacher in Lula, Mississippi.

While visiting West Helena, Arkansas one weekend, she met the love of her life, Earnest Page. They married shortly after meeting in 1969. With their union, they raised four children: Kathy, Darrell, Andre’ and Angela. The family moved to Chicago Illinois, where they lived for about nine years. Later they would make their permanent home in West Helena, Arkansas.

In 1978, Shirley began her journey as a Certified Nursing Assistant, caring for the sick and elderly at Helena Regional Hospital, Helena Arkansas. She would later work at Crest Park Skills Nursing Facility which became her work home for 28 years. During her tenure, she made many friends, but Laverne Thompson- Jefferson and Mildred Smith were dear to her.

After retiring, she enjoyed cooking at the New Zion Community Center, West Helena Arkansas to feed the needy. She was jazzy, stylish, and loved to shop daily. She enjoyed talking on the phone. She especially loved her immediate and extended family dearly. She would have given them the world if it were in her power. She was a surrogate mother to many of the younger generation.

Shirley and her husband would later move to Memphis, Tennessee where they were surrounded by the love of their children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren.

Shirley was welcomed into the arms of our Lord and Savior on the evening of August 18, 2022.

Shirley leaves to mourn her passing a son; Andre’ (Tonya) Page, daughter; Angela (Neal) Page – Williams, daughter-in-law; Tracy Shepard Hardy, two sisters; Ann Meadors, Jeanette Williams, special sister-in-law; Ruby Hardy, brother; Michael Hardy, Sr., grandchildren; Amber (Trent), Darrell, Jr. (Tequilla), Kylan (Tierney), Landan, Jaelen, Jocelyn (Dominique), Cheno (Sidonia), Oral, Christopher, great grandchildren; Bella, Malcolm, Aaliyah, Aden, Abishai, Mylah, Myliah, Lacey, Langston, Promise, nieces; Ethel, Rita, Andrea, Alicia, Sachettlle, Alexis, Wanda, Sydney, Ashley, Mary, Samella, Jackie, Pearl, Evelyn, Pauline, Marlene, Marva, Niecy, Sonya, Pam, nephews; Evan, Archie, Michael, Jr., Patrick, Eugene, Jr., Arnold, Arynton, Vaughn, Kem, Larry, Herman, Ocie, special cousin; Reverend Julius McGruder, special friend; Lavern, Mildred, Isaac, and a host of other relatives and friends.