Shirley R. Martin

Shirley Mae Randle Martin was born June 20, 1933, in Saint Louis, Missouri to the union of Seth Randle Jr. and Claudia White Randle. Shirley attended Dunbar Grade School and Sumner High School. She began college at Lincoln University at the age of sixteen. She graduated from Southern Illinois University Carbondale in 1955. Shirley joined the Lutheran Church while at SIUC. After graduation, Shirley began her teaching career in the St. Louis Public Schools (STPS) and attended Saint Phillips Church. She later joined Bethesda Lutheran Church in Pine Lawn, Missouri. She next received her Masters of Education Degree from St. Louis University. After teaching at several schools, she was elected to be the first African-American to teach at Walnut Park Elementary School. Shirley was united in holy matrimony to Bennie Martin at Saint Philips Lutheran Church on March 30, 1969. They fell a few months short of fifty years. Shirley continued her education with the Masters Plus 30 Degree and a Certificate in Counseling from the University of Missouri at St. Louis to become a counselor. As a counselor at Sumner High School, she was also a Military Liaison and a representative for the United Negro College Fund and received many awards for those efforts. Shirley became a duplicate bridge player in the mid-1970’s and advanced to the highest level in the American Bridge Association (ABA) and also served a term as secretary/treasurer of the Midwest Region. She later became a member of the American Contract Bridge League (ACBL) and advanced several levels in that organization. Shirley was a golden lifetime active and dedicated member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Incorporated and served in many capacities throughout the years. Shirley was the senior active member of the OAKS (Older Active Kids) Organization of Northwoods, Missouri. She also enjoyed reading mystery novels and usually carried a book with her wherever she went. As a member of Grace Lutheran Church Pagedale, she worked in the church office and was a member of the Ladies Aid while health permitted. Shirley was preceded in death by her parents, one sister Norma Jean Harris and one brother Seth Randle Jr. Shirley leaves to cherish her memory: husband Bennie, daughter Susan (Brent) Harvey, her son Robert (Alicia) Waller; grandchildren Jessica Harvey, Brent Harvey II, Bryant Harvey, Madison Waller, and Caitlyn Waller; great-grandchildren Keaton I, Whitney, Jamarion D. Williams, and Peyton Elise Clemons; sisters-in-law Rose Farwell and Allean Davis; brother-in-law Donald Martin; nephews DeWitt H. Harris, Seth Randle III, Robin Randle; nieces Holly (Ken) Mills, Lisa (Monte) Kayser, Ann Randle, and a host of other relatives and friends.

Shirley R. Martin

June 20, 1933 - October 20, 2018