Obituary for Shirley Watson
Shirley Ann Cheeks-Watson was the only child born to Velma and Sylvester Cheeks on October 29, 1954, in Detroit, MI. She was the joy of their lives, and prior to their passing, they spent every possible moment showering her with love.
Shirley enjoyed an active childhood in East Detroit, where she met lifelong friends. She attended Bethel Baptist Church East with her parents, before transferring her membership to New Covenant Missionary Baptist Church.
Shirley received her education within the Detroit Public School system. She graduated from Charles F. Kettering High School in June 1972, after which she attended Wayne County Community College. She worked at General Motors and WCAA until her retirement in December 2020.
In 1972, Shirley met Kenneth D. Watson. She knew he would be the love of her life! They dated for two years before they were married on December 9, 1974. To their surprise, a beautiful baby girl, Tia, was born on July 9, 1984. Like her parents, Shirley spent every possible moment showering Tia with love. They had a mother-daughter bond like no other. She was the joy of Shirley’s life, and the 2019 birth of Gage, her grandson, brought her even more joy. She was affectionately known as Gage’s “Yaya.”
Shirley had an amazing eye for beauty and detail. She enjoyed decorating, shopping, sewing, designing, and party planning. She was a social butterfly who belonged to The Red Hatters (Ypsilanti Chapter), Jack and Jill (Ypsilanti Chapter) and the Campfire Girls (Detroit Chapter). She will be remembered most for her smile, mentorship, elegance, and the fact that she always left people and places better than she found them. She will be forever missed.
On Saturday, July 9, 2022, Shirley passed from labor to reward. She leaves to treasure her memories: her loving husband of 48 years, Kenneth Watson; her daughter, Tia (Jerome) Gross; her grandson, Gage Gross; two brothers-in-law, Willie (Robin) Watson and Kelvin Watson; two sisters-in-law, Carol Watson and Joyce Johnson; special cousins, Fred and Cynthia Jackson and Charnette Henderson; three best friends, Cynthia Willoughby, Judy Dickens, and Sammie Williams; four godchildren, Amber Holly, Craig Freeman, Jr., Bobbie Portos Jr., and Kendall; her Red Hatters, Jack and Jill, and Campfire Girls Families; and a host of other relatives and friends.
Shirley enjoyed an active childhood in East Detroit, where she met lifelong friends. She attended Bethel Baptist Church East with her parents, before transferring her membership to New Covenant Missionary Baptist Church.
Shirley received her education within the Detroit Public School system. She graduated from Charles F. Kettering High School in June 1972, after which she attended Wayne County Community College. She worked at General Motors and WCAA until her retirement in December 2020.
In 1972, Shirley met Kenneth D. Watson. She knew he would be the love of her life! They dated for two years before they were married on December 9, 1974. To their surprise, a beautiful baby girl, Tia, was born on July 9, 1984. Like her parents, Shirley spent every possible moment showering Tia with love. They had a mother-daughter bond like no other. She was the joy of Shirley’s life, and the 2019 birth of Gage, her grandson, brought her even more joy. She was affectionately known as Gage’s “Yaya.”
Shirley had an amazing eye for beauty and detail. She enjoyed decorating, shopping, sewing, designing, and party planning. She was a social butterfly who belonged to The Red Hatters (Ypsilanti Chapter), Jack and Jill (Ypsilanti Chapter) and the Campfire Girls (Detroit Chapter). She will be remembered most for her smile, mentorship, elegance, and the fact that she always left people and places better than she found them. She will be forever missed.
On Saturday, July 9, 2022, Shirley passed from labor to reward. She leaves to treasure her memories: her loving husband of 48 years, Kenneth Watson; her daughter, Tia (Jerome) Gross; her grandson, Gage Gross; two brothers-in-law, Willie (Robin) Watson and Kelvin Watson; two sisters-in-law, Carol Watson and Joyce Johnson; special cousins, Fred and Cynthia Jackson and Charnette Henderson; three best friends, Cynthia Willoughby, Judy Dickens, and Sammie Williams; four godchildren, Amber Holly, Craig Freeman, Jr., Bobbie Portos Jr., and Kendall; her Red Hatters, Jack and Jill, and Campfire Girls Families; and a host of other relatives and friends.