Page 42 - Senior Link Magazine Spring 2021- Online Magazine

Exceptional
SENIORS
hen a friend and I
were starting a prayer
Wministry in our church,
we sought out the names of
people who were known for
having a strong prayer life. Shirley
Cleveland was one of those names.
Our first “date” was at Gardski’s
Loft, and I remember sitting across
the booth from her and soaking
up each word as she shared
from a deep well of wisdom and
experiences. I still feel the same
way nine years later.
Shirley was born in Mart, Texas,
on July 19, 1940, one of ten kids.
Since her father was often ill, she
fondly remembers getting to go to
work with her mom in the fields.
Although she wasn’t able to go
to school until cotton harvesting
season was over each year, she
learned valuable life lessons. Her
mom’s words over young Shirley
still resonate in her today: “Your
word is your bond. It’s important.”
She also recounted the lessons of
having a strong work ethic, being
responsible, fair and honest, and
42 Lubbock Senior Link
Beauty
FROM Ashes by Traci Payne
Shirley Cleveland
paying your Her eldest daughter, Linda, praised
bills. It was her mom as a woman of virtue
probably these who knows Who holds the key to
lessons that the future. She said that, after her
attributed to father died, she remembers seeing
her refusal of her mother pray about getting into
government cosmetology school. Those prayers
assistance were answered when Shirley
later in her life became only the second black
when tragedy woman to attend and graduate
struck. from the Isabelle Powell Beauty
The light shines in the darkness and School in Lubbock. In Shirley’s
the darkness has not overcome it. John own words, “I was terrified, but I
1:5 was determined to make a good
living for my girls.” And that she
The year was 1964, and Shirley did.
was married, with two young The hard work paid off, but she
daughters and expecting a third wasn’t done. After working for
child. In the span of about a month, different beauty shops in town,
Shirley’s husband was murdered, Shirley overcame the odds once
her 18-month-old daughter died of again. Linda remembers her mom
leukemia, and her house burned praying about opening a beauty
down. Any one of those events shop in her garage, so she could
might have caused a person to turn be there when LaChelle got home
away from God, despising Him, from school. It was definitely not
and to seek solace in any number
of destructive avenues. an easy task! Linda remembers
her mom filling out all kinds of
But not Shirley. She pressed in paperwork, getting approval from
more closely to God and, according the city and, interestingly, getting
to LaChelle (the daughter born a the OK and signatures of approval
few months after these events), from all of her neighbors. Those
“Her darkness became light to us.” prayers were answered, and she
She recounted that, as young girls, worked out of her home for over 40
they were taught the importance years. According to her daughter,
of fasting and praying, tithing and LaChelle, she set her standards
giving offerings. Those lessons of professionalism very high and
settled deep in both of Shirley’s served doctors and attorneys, along
daughters, and they continue in with countless other professional
these disciplines to this day, with business people.
countless testimonies of their own.