Shirley Elizabeth Farmer

The Story Of Her Life…

On May 12th, 1953, Shirley Elizabeth Jordan was born to Florine Williams and Willie B. Bell, Sr. in Memphis, TN.   She is the second eldest child of seven children.  By age 10, Shirley’s family relocated to Houston, TX where she grew up and attended school until her graduation from high school in 1971.  Around that time, Shirley met the “Love of Her Life,” Hilton T. Farmer, Jr., originally from Compton, Ca., also known as her “Hunny Bunny.”

As their love and friendship evolved, Shirley and Hilton married and gave birth to their eldest child Michael Dewayne Farmer, born in Galveston, TX in 1973.  Shortly thereafter, Shirley and Hilton relocated to Southern California.  During their 27 years of marriage, they gave birth to their only daughter Stacey Monique Farmer, born in 1975, and their youngest son Jermaine Eugene Farmer, born in 1982. Witnessing Shirley and Hilton’s relationship, everyone knew they were best friends and inseparable until he preceded her in death in 1998.

Shirley prided herself in obtaining her Nursing License in 1978, from which she practiced and elevated to become a Registered Nurse until 1983 when she was forced to retire due to injury.  However, her desire to continue nurturing and caring for others remained evident through her last days, as she nursed and cared for babies, elders, and loved ones until the end.

All who encountered Shirley became infected by her warmth, laughter, love, and ability to make everyone feel welcome.  Shirley is best known for her green thumb with house plants and gardening, cooking, baking cakes, and gravitating to babies and children around.  Also, Shirley’s heart was so big that she helped everyone from all walks of life.  In Shirley’s eyes, there was no such thing as a stranger, just a person that she could find a way to relate to.

Shirley was very family oriented and was very proud to be a daughter, big-sister, wife, mother, and grandmother.  There is nothing that she wouldn’t do for her loved ones.  Shirley follows to her eternal resting place, her husband Hilton T. Farmer, Jr.; grandmother Pauline Bolden; mother Florine Williams; brother Mark Bell; sisters Linda Jordan Barnes and Diana Breedlove; father Willie B. Bell, Sr.; and in-laws Hilton T. Farmer, Sr., Vee Ella Farmer, and Loreta Walker.

In addition to her legacy of kindness, love and compassion for others, Shirley leaves to cherish her three children, Michael, Stacey and Jermaine: two brothers Kenneth Bell (Debra), and Willie B. Bell, Jr. (Sheila Galvez); stepfather Jimmie Wiliams; Alex Minor (honorary son); (honorary daughter) Adinah Lee; a granddaughter Jazmin Farmer; five grandsons- Michael Robert Farmer, Isaiah Farmer, Dayshawn Farmer, Taiwan Farmer, Joshua Farmer; (honorary granddaughter) Paris Brown; and soon to be daughter-in-law Lee Antoinete Brown.  Memories are also cherished by Shirley’s in-laws preceded in death Lareta Walker (Willie), Dorothy Resse (Kern), Jacqueline Jackson (John), Yvete Williams (Steven); a host of nieces and nephews; a host of aunts and uncles in Memphis, TN; two great-nieces, three great-nephews, and in addition also close friends and family.