Shirley Maxine Coleman was born on November 25, 1941 to the parents of A.Z. and Pansy Jean Cooks in Leverland, Texas. She attended Lincoln High School. As an adult she pursued a career in cosmetology license from Nelson Beauty College, even becoming one of their instructors. Pursuing excellence, Shirley used her cosmetology expertise to start her own Beauty Salon, along side her close sister, Katherine Burks.

After bringing many smiles to her clients, she moved on to Singing Hills Recreational Center, where she worked closely with the youth in the community. She was always being a positive inspiration to whomever came across her. From  there she worked for Parkland Hospital, where she eventually retired from the Finance department, after 10 years of faithful service.

Our beloved sister, mother, grandmother, great grandmother and aunt was a faithful member of Living Testimony Baptist Church. She served as an usher, submitted under her nephew, Pastor Emery Burks. She was also a Eastern Star member.

Shirley was the mother of (2) children: Stanley Coleman (Tammy) and Anita Gay (Markeith); sister to (4) brothers: Azell Cooks (Henrietta), Raymond Cooks, Supt. James Cooks (Virginia), and  Lewis Cooks; (3) sisters: Ira McKensey, Erma Jean Williams and Katherine Burks (Charles) along with a host of grandchildren, nieces, nephews, cousins, other family and friends. Her memory will forever be cherished by them.