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Shirley Jean Overstreet was born January 12, 1949 to Delores and John Woods.
She graduated from Eastern High School and furthered her education at the Parker Institute.
Shirley was a hard worker at Harper Hospital as a Medical Secretary. Often times we teased her and said that her penmanship was like a doctor, hard to read.
Shirley was united in holy matrimony to Freddie Partlow, Jr. on December 13, 2001.
She was a charter member of Christ Cornerstone Missionary Baptist Church for over 30 years under the leadership of the late Dr. Obie Matthews. Shirley was very active as she served on the kitchen committee, sang in the choir and was on the Deaconess Board.
She later joined the New Greater Christ Baptist Church in 2005. As a charter member she was dedicated, faithful and eager to participate wherever she was needed. She was the President of the Deaconess Board and she FAITHFULLY paid her tithes and offering.
When Shirley started having difficulty getting around, her New Greater Christ Church family would go to her home to have bible study.
Shirley loved her family and had a special bond with her loving sons, grandson and great granddaughter. Many times she intervened on Maliyah’s behalf and wouldn’t allow her parents to give her “special attention”.
She especially looked forward to Sunday because her sister, nieces and nephews would often stop by after church to visit her.
She also had her Wilshire neighbors of over 30 years who stopped by to check on her and they looked to her for guidance.
“Shirley Girl” as we sometimes called her had a loving family of private duty nurses. Her niece Shalanda was “on call”; Shamarra was the “relief nurse” assisting Shalanda and Shequella (Keta) was the “night nurse” often times spending the night.
Shirley loved to play Pokeno with her family along with doing her arts and crafts. And if you went by her home, you would think that she belonged to the “Delta Sorority: because she has elephants everywhere. If it’s in the shape of an elephant, she has it; lamps, tables, blankets, pictures, etc.
Shirley always remembered birthdays and wedding anniversaries. Over the years, you looked forward to receiving a card from her because it was going to have a piece of change taped to the card or she would send you the soft money.
Shirley and Uncle Doug looked after each other and “John-John” looked out for both of them. He would walk all over the eastside of Detroit in all types of weather to get Shirley whatever she wanted.
Shirley made her transition to be with the Lord on May 2, 2019. She was truly loved and supported by her family and was at peace to join those that preceded her in death: mother, Delores Woods; father, John Woods; brother, John Thornton and husband, Freddie Partlow, Jr.
She leaves to cherish her memory: devoted sons, Romondo Woods, Sr. and Romero Woods; stepson, Freddie Partlow III (Paris); sisters, Jacqueline McCary (Eddie), Sharon Woods (Sam), Johnna and Jessica; grandson Romondo Woods II; great-granddaughter, Maliyah Woods who affectionately call her GiGi; uncle, Donald Sheffield; aunts, Virginia Turner and Willa Johnson, and a host of nieces nephews, cousins and friends.
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