Shirley is a graduate of Auburn University. She worked forty plus years as an educator. She retired as an Alabama English teacher in 1997. Then, she went to Georgia, where she retired as a media specialist in 2011. In 2014, She published a book of poetry, DROPS OF LIGHT and began writing TROUBLING THE ASHES, which is based on her life experiences in a small, rural town in Alabama, during the turbulent 60s and 70s, when desegregation of schools revealed anger, hate, and racism throughout Alabama. Since TTA was released, Shirley has written two more novels and is half-way through another one. SWEET TEA WITH LEMON will be released next spring, which deals with the friendship of three completely different women. One loses her battle with cancer, while the three friends learn the meaning of friendship, living, dying, and family. Shirley is a widow and has two adult children.