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Shirley Ann Clary Perry entered into life on August 5, 1947 in Greenville, Mississippi. She was the daughter of Armsberry and Rosie Bea Clark. Her family relocated to Boston, Massachusetts where Shirley spent her childhood years and graduated from high school. In her young adult years, she received training as a model and procured work in that field. Shirley carried her sense of style and fashion throughout her life.

When Shirley's good friend Ervin McNeil joined the Army, he told her he would find her a husband; and he did just that. After watching Byron Perry for a time in Vietnam, he told Byron he had someone he wanted to introduce him to. Shirley and Byron became pen pals for a few months before he met her in person. They spent a week together in Boston, meeting for lunch and taking the bus to her Mother's home. Shirley would say later that he spent more time in the kitchen with her Mom than he did with her. The bond had already been formed, and they talked long distance for the next few months. He proposed by phone, she accepted, and they married on June 17, 1969 in Boston. Byron had not seen her since that week in Boston until the day before the nuptials. He would later say that he never spent a dime on dating her, but she made him pay for it ever since! They were blessed later with one son, Bryce Edward Perry.

Over the years, Shirley worked as an administrative assistant and later as a NASA Administrator. She was an accomplished cook, baker, and homemaker. Blessed with the gift of hospitality, Shirley was a friend to anyone she ever met. She was a counselor and encourager and had a heart for service and people. She would hug perfect strangers at any given moment and never saw a baby she didn't want to take home. As the grandmother of Mylz Jacob and Mekhi Joshua, she was a quintessential Grandma who lavished them with love, homemade goodies, and godly advice. She also spoiled other nieces and nephews along the way.

Shirley gave her life to the Lord at a young age and made a recommitment to Christ in her adult years, She always found a church home when the family moved and has served at Grant AME in Boston, MA; Pilgrim Baptist in San Mateo, CA; South Bay Community in Freemont, CA; Living Hope Bible Church, Lowry Christian Community, and Living Oaks Fellowship in Aurora, CO; Denver Christian Bible Church, and First Baptist Church in Indian Trail, NC. She has served in the Angels Tree Ministry, the Children's Ministry, the Hospitality Ministry, a greeter for Sunday Services, and a Kitchen Coordinator. Shirley's special love was singing in the choir.

When the Lord called Shirley home peacefully on January 27, 20204, he relieved her of a season of pain and suffering. She never lost faith that God was with her through it all. Shirley is preceded in death by her parents and two brothers Carl Clark and Glenn Aubrey Clark. Those who will forever cherish her memory are her loving and caring husband of fifty-four years, Byron Grant Perry who called her "Lem"; their son Bryce Perry and her daughter-in-law, Elana Perry of North Carolina; her grandsons Mylz and Mekhi Perry; her siblings: Ora Dean Stackhouse, Serfino Best, John Clark, David Clark, Valerie Clark, and Eugenia Clark, all of Boston, MA; Gwendolyn Clark of San Francisco, CA; Patricia Bishop of Hammond, IN; and Donna Clayton of Chicago, IL; her in-laws: Kathy (Mac) Pendleton of Jeffersonville, IN; Adam Perry of Detroit, MI; Ardella (Curtis) Perry-Osler of Hopkins Park, IL; Joseph Perry of Hopkins, IL; Vernon Perry of Des Moines, IA; her spiritual mentor, Jason (Sharo) Perry of Dyer, IN; other family members, and many faithful friends.