Shirley Ann Moulton

Shirley Ann Moulton was born November 13, 1954 in Kingsport Tennessee, to loving parents, Kenneth and Frankie B. Smith. She was the 5th child of six loving children, Yvonne, Ken Jr, Jackie, Emmanuel and Leroy. Shirley said goodbye to us on Monday, Marth 16, 2026. While Shirley always carried herself as a true Southern belle, her father, Kennth Smith Senior, opened new opportunities for the family when he joined Caterpillar and moved them to Joliet, Illinois. Shirley and her family primarily grew up in the house “at the bottom of the hill” on Edge Hill Avenue. Shirley graduated from Joliet Central High School in 1972 and then attended college. In 1975, Shirley married James Moulton III, from this Union, three children were born: Shanta Frances, Jaron Darell and Jamara DeShon. Shirley had a nurturing and kind spirit and her most valued job was being a homemaker and mother to her three children. For this reason, it was no surprise that once she decided to work outside the home, her character led her to help others. Shirley was a teacher’s aide at Fairmont Middle School in her early adult years. Later in life, she chose a position at Trinity Services, where she was a teacher to developmentally disabled adults. At different times over the years, Shirley’s caring nature led her to welcome three of her nieces and nephews into her home and raise them as her own. Shirley treated all her nieces, nephews and her children’s friends (with a mother’s love). Shirley also took great pride in being a major part in helping raise her grandchildren. Shirley was a daddy’s girl through and through, and with that same caring love she took her mom Frankie B. into her home when she was no longer able to live alone. Shirley loved listening to R&B Music, new and old. She was always sitting outside on someone’s porch with her brothers, sisters, sisters-in-law, Ruby and Vera M., close friends, Vera J., Carolyn and many more. Shirley is known for loving gardening and planting plants and flowers. She grew vegetables in her backyard garden and enjoyed tending to the garden at her mom’s house. Shirley loved sharing the fruits of her labor, passing out green tomatoes and other vegetables she grew to family, friends and neighbors. Shirley’s home was surrounded with plants and flowers that she loved to share and even taught some of us how to grow them on our own. Shirley, known by many as Shirl Ann, was a sweet and kindhearted lady and was loved by many. Shirley was strong willed, (ok…stubborn). That stubbornness gave her the strength to fight her condition over her last years of life. Shirley suffered a stroke in 2016, but that did not stop her from getting out in the yard and planting her garden, flowers and plants. It didn’t stop her from getting in her truck and visiting family, and it did not stop her from sitting in her driveway or on her front porch visiting with friends, family and playing with her grandchildren. Shirley is preceded in death by her parents, Frankie and Kenneth Smith; two brothers, Ken Junior, and Emmanuel; one sister, Yvonne Stevenson and grandson, Jamara DeShon Jr. Shirley leaves precious memories to her children: Shanta Moulton, Jamara (Chanel) Moulton and Jaron (Frances) Moulton; grandchildren, A’Neitra (Steve), Jamar, Jaren, Vincent, Ashlei, Jeremiah, Jeremy and Jasiah; great grandchildren, Shai and Milani; her sister, Jackie and brother, Leroy; and a host of nieces and nephews, family and friends.

Shirley Ann Moulton

November 13, 1954 - March 16, 2026