1936
Shirley
2014
Shirley Chapman
November 9, 1936 — February 2, 2014
Shirley Chapman
Shirley Rayford Chapman, a prayer warrior and matriarch of one of the most recognizable families in Las Vegas, went to her heavenly reward on Sunday, Feb. 2, 2014. She was 77.
Shirley was born on Nov. 9, 1936 in McComb, Mississippi to Vollie and Geraldine Thompson Rayford. As a young girl, Shirley and her brother, Charles Rayford, moved to Reno, Nevada, where she was raised by her grandmother. Shirley graduated from Reno High School in 1954, and was a classmate and friend of, among others, Dawn Wells of “Gilligan’s Island” fame.
Shirley met her future husband, Morris Chapman, at a Las Vegas church where she was singing in the choir. As Morris was playing the piano, Shirley told her Aunt Melvener Powell, "He's going to be my husband someday." The two were married on April 18, 1959 at the Upper Room Church of God in Christ, now known as Pentecostal Temple Church of Las Vegas.
Shirley was a professional housekeeper for many years and enjoyed being a homemaker as well. She loved raising African violets and also had a passion for cooking and music. She taught all of her children to cook for themselves and began a tradition when her children were young that they would each be required to prepare one meal every week. Shirley’s daughter Kimberly said each of her siblings is grateful for their mom’s insistence that they learn to cook, and also for the way she modeled serving and interceding for others: “She was a prayer warrior.”
Kimberly’s brother, Kevin, remembers his mother’s great smile, which “lit up the room,” and amazing sense of laughter. Kevin said his siblings are grateful that their mom “overcame her hard life so that we could have a better one.”
Shirley is survived by her husband of nearly 55 years, Morris; five children: Kevin (and Cathy) Chapman, Karen (and Ennis) Williams, Kenneth (and DeAnna) Chapman, Kimberly (and Jeff) Belknap, and Kristen (and Jason) Francis; six grandchildren (Kellie, Kasey, Kameron, Evrin, Erinn and Roman); and four great-grandchildren (Kavion, Kelise, Keion, and Kathan), along with six nieces and nephews.
A memorial service for Shirley will be held on Saturday, February 15, at 11 am at Pentecostal Temple Church of God in Christ – the church where Shirley and Morris were married – at 1117 F Street in Las Vegas. Heritage Mortuary is handling the arrangements.
Shirley Rayford Chapman, a prayer warrior and matriarch of one of the most recognizable families in Las Vegas, went to her heavenly reward on Sunday, Feb. 2, 2014. She was 77.
Shirley was born on Nov. 9, 1936 in McComb, Mississippi to Vollie and Geraldine Thompson Rayford. As a young girl, Shirley and her brother, Charles Rayford, moved to Reno, Nevada, where she was raised by her grandmother. Shirley graduated from Reno High School in 1954, and was a classmate and friend of, among others, Dawn Wells of “Gilligan’s Island” fame.
Shirley met her future husband, Morris Chapman, at a Las Vegas church where she was singing in the choir. As Morris was playing the piano, Shirley told her Aunt Melvener Powell, "He's going to be my husband someday." The two were married on April 18, 1959 at the Upper Room Church of God in Christ, now known as Pentecostal Temple Church of Las Vegas.
Shirley was a professional housekeeper for many years and enjoyed being a homemaker as well. She loved raising African violets and also had a passion for cooking and music. She taught all of her children to cook for themselves and began a tradition when her children were young that they would each be required to prepare one meal every week. Shirley’s daughter Kimberly said each of her siblings is grateful for their mom’s insistence that they learn to cook, and also for the way she modeled serving and interceding for others: “She was a prayer warrior.”
Kimberly’s brother, Kevin, remembers his mother’s great smile, which “lit up the room,” and amazing sense of laughter. Kevin said his siblings are grateful that their mom “overcame her hard life so that we could have a better one.”
Shirley is survived by her husband of nearly 55 years, Morris; five children: Kevin (and Cathy) Chapman, Karen (and Ennis) Williams, Kenneth (and DeAnna) Chapman, Kimberly (and Jeff) Belknap, and Kristen (and Jason) Francis; six grandchildren (Kellie, Kasey, Kameron, Evrin, Erinn and Roman); and four great-grandchildren (Kavion, Kelise, Keion, and Kathan), along with six nieces and nephews.
A memorial service for Shirley will be held on Saturday, February 15, at 11 am at Pentecostal Temple Church of God in Christ – the church where Shirley and Morris were married – at 1117 F Street in Las Vegas. Heritage Mortuary is handling the arrangements.
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Shirley Chapman, please visit our flower store.
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