Shirley Gullatt was granted her angel wings on March 28, 2023, at the age of 71. She was born on July 15, 1951 in Florence, South Carolina to the late Hatti Mormon and James Connally. Shirley later moved to New York City and attended Julia Richmond, an all-girls High School, followed by attending New York University to study accounting; she held various careers, but retired as an accountant from Columbia University Earth Institute.
Shirley married the late Jesse P. Gullatt in 1975, and was preceded in death by her siblings, Phillip, Sheila, Sylvia, and Valerie.
Her beautiful life will forever be cherished in the lives of her children: Jesse Jr. Gullatt, Simone Gullatt, Ericia Gray, Chase Gullatt, Nigel Gullatt, Emanuel Gullatt, son-in law, Bryan Gray, her thirteen grandchildren, five great-grandchildren, brother, Michael Connally and a host of other loving relatives and friends.
Shirley was a proud member of the International Masons & Eastern Star, holding the position of Worthy Matron of the Noble Lady Frances Jones #437 Chapter; she was an active member of the Coop City Baptist Church in the Bronx and held various community leadership positions, including serving on the Board of Directors at Montefiore Hospital, in the Bronx, N.Y. and co-founder and Director of Key Women of Americas--an advocacy organization for juvenile delinquents.
Shirley’s talents were many, but what she held close to her heart was her passion for healing her community and her family (“Family is everything”).
Shirley had a wonderful sense of humor that kept people rolling in laughter—any comedian will tell you that it’s the delivery that will drive humor home—and she did that well.
Shirley enjoyed her family, travel, holidays, and family gatherings, and had an affinity for people—if you met her, you were immediately inducted into the family. Period. She touched many lives with her generosity and passion for life. We love you, mommy but God loves you more!
A memorial service will be held at 12:00 noon, Tuesday, April 4, 2023 at Turrentine-Jackson-Morrow Funeral Home, 2525 Central Expressway North, Allen, Texas. The service will be livestreamed at https://celebrationoflife.tv/blog/shirley-gullatt, Central Standard Time. After the service, the recorded livestream will be available at the same link location.