Shirley Jean Hairston Bohannon was born February 22, 1935 in Winston-Salem, NC as the fourth daughter of seven daughters born to Rev. Richard B. & Bessie Lee Hooper Hairston both of whom preceded her in death. She was educated in the Winston-Salem Forsyth County Schools graduating early from Atkins High School to help her mother with supporting the family unit as Rev. Hairston passed of Tuberculosis in her early youth.

As she helped to support her family in her youth, she continued to do so over and over again as an adult. Her heart was big and her arms stretched wide in her great big family. She was a solid rock and held strong. As several of her sisters set forth in moving to northern states, she joined her mother, Bessie (Muah), in mothering several of her nieces and nephews as her very own. She even "adopted" many adult nieces & nephews as her sisters became members of the Heavenly Choir. She had the unique trait of making each and every one of us feel as if we were her one and only child to wit only Steven held that honor, but he generously shared her with all of us because when she loved you, you knew it. She looked forward to each Hairston Family Reunion as if each one was her very first one.

She loved God with all of her heart and soul. There was no doubting both her love of God and her love of St. John CME Church where she was a long time stellar member, prior President of the Pastors Aide Board, Member of the Steward Board, and Senior Choir Member. Her presence will be missed for many seasons to come as she has left a mighty powerful legacy of faith. Her favorite pastime was reading the Holy Bible and watching both the Wheel of Fortune & Jeopardy, and loving on her family both formal and extended.

At 84 years young, she retired several times over from the following institutions: Hanes Hosiery / Administrative Assistant; Moravian Home / Certified Nursing Assistant; In Home Care Home Health Aide / Certified Nursing Assistant. Yet she continued to work until mere days before growing her wings and being called to Glory to reunite with family members having preceded her in death and to sing in the Heavenly Choir. Though her passing is stunning and shocking to so many of us that she left behind, we know that like us her time was written in the Lamb's Book of Life.

Surviving her in Death are: Steven (Pearlie) A. Hairston (son); Desherie (Isaac) Shirley Jeane Patterson LeSaine (beloved granddaughter); Tha'Mia Brown (great granddaughter); NgoZika Hairston (beloved granddaughter), Charles (Pamela) E. Hairston (fictive son); Pamela T. Hairston (fictive daughter); Minister Daryll (Pamela) Tyrone Eaton (fictive son); Alvin D. Eaton, Jr. (fictive son). Ophelia Hairston Abney (sister); Gwendolyn Hairston Eaton-Lawrence (sister); Rev. Artis Hairston Smith (sister) and a host of beloved nieces, nephews, great nieces, great nephews, and great-great nieces and great-great nephews.

She was preceded in death by: Booker T. Bohannon (husband); Catherine Hairston Jackson (sister); Dorothy J. Hairston (sister); Fostenia Hairston (sister); Celestine L. Hairston-Byers (fictive daughter)

Funeral services will be held at 12 p.m. Saturday, February 15, 2020 at St. John CME Church, 350 NW Crawford Place, Winston-Salem, NC. The family will greet friends one hour prior to the service.

For copy of funeral program click here