Shirley Muhammad - Powell

Allah/God Graced the world with Shirley Ann Powell June 8th, 1949 and returned to Him September 17, 2024. Shirley was affectionately known as mama, sister, auntie, cousin and friend. She was the fifth child of John Thomas and Mamie B Manning.

She was reared in a religious home in Bessemer, AL. Her family attended church regularly. She had a lively sense of humor. As a young girl, she enjoyed many days filled with laughter, playing and joking with her siblings. Shirley was a bright star, who attended the Bessemer City schools where she caught the eye of her future husband and father of her four girls, Larry Powell.

In 1966, Shirley married her elementary school sweetheart, at the tender age of 17, in Bessemer Alabama. Their Union included relocating to Boston, Massachusetts where they would live together for 22 years rearing four beautiful girls, establishing their careers and joining the Nation of Islam in 1981. At that point she was affectionately known as Sister Shirley3 Muhammad.

Shirley fondly referred to her daughters as" her girls", Vannessa the first born she was the "bossy girl".Diane, the next born, was her "quiet girl", SaBrina, her third born was her "creative girl", and last but definitely not least, Juwanda, was her "hot mess".

Shirley loved to serve people, and this was proven by her dedicated and extended career at Massachusetts General Hospital where she excelled as a healthcare administrator and retiring in 2006.

In addition, she dedicated much of her time to the Nation of Islam, moving quickly up the ranks to become Sister Captain Shirley3 Muhammad. She mentored many young girls over the years. She could be found lending her empathetic ear or offering sound advice to the youth as well as to the adults. She led the Jr. M.G.T. and G.C.C. class of Boston, Muhammad Mosque No. 11.

After relocating back home (Bessemer, AL) in 2006, she continued to dedicate her time at Muhammad Mosque No. 69 assisting in the Secretarial department, M.G.T., Community Out Reach Programs, Fundraisers and assisting the fellow believers whenever and however she could. Sister Shirley3 Muhammad was an active and devoted Solider In the Army of Islam.

She was often the go to person for assistance for the F.O.I and M.GT. Sister Shirley3 was a dependable friend, who you could confide in. Some would say "she was their rock, a strong shoulder to lean on". If you shared something with her, you could rest assured she took it to her prayer rug and no one else.

Have you tasted her bean pies? If not, you missed a treat! Her carrot cake and chocolate cake were to die for! She loved baking and sharing her sweet treats with her family and community. Her love for baking and serving helped her remain diligent in her tithing. Giving was just "in her". We'll never forget her and how she has touched us all, she was a true woman of God always believing in His will and His true and absolute word!

Sister Shirley3 was also quite the fashionista, always stylish and always classy. Runway ready was her claim to fame! Shirley exemplified style and grace. She would add beauty to anything she touched, a phenomenal anomaly right up to the end, she never ceased to amaze us, with her tantalizing conversation and witty sense of humor complimented by her infectious smile.

Sister Shirley3 enjoyed the simpler things in life, like sitting on her back patio watching the sunset after a sunny day. Taking her grand babies to the park, baking, crafting, long talks with "Her Girls" and Uncle Steve, window shopping, bargain hunting with Auntie Max at Goodwill, Goodwill y'all! (smile). Loving friendships with her Sisters in Faith. Movie Night at Juwan's . And just enjoying the family she knew she was truly blessed with.

We honor her today a woman we admire a woman we call Mama, sister, auntie, cousin and friend, today we hold her high. We love you Shirley girl!

Our sweet Shirley has left to cherish her memory, her four girls, Vannessa Powell, Boston, MA, Diane Brown, Atlanta, GA, Sabrina Muhammad (husband Walter), Boston, MA, and Juwanda Mims (husband Reginald), Bessemer, AL. A devoted grandmother, she leaves Natasha Jarrett, Chante Jarrett, Lawrence Brown, Leonard Brown, Lucius Brown (wife Sassa), Sharlana Johnson (husband John), Shanea Floyd (husband Tikino), Demetres Mitchell, and John Bradley, Akiria Powell, Reginald Mims, and seventeen great-grandchildren. Makai, Aamiyah, Soriyah, Zaliyah, Zaki, Karson, Aubrey, Lazim, Luqman, John, Jaida, Kaleb, Kalil, Aliyah, Kendall, Kali, and Lazil. Shirley is survived by siblings, Maxine Johnson, Bessemer, AL, Stephen Manning, Atlanta, and Charlena Manning, Bessemer, AL. She is preceded in death by her brother Frank Crawford, Sawyerville, AL, her sister Sarah Lawson, Bronx, NY, and her brother John Lee Manning, LA, California. She also leaves a host of nieces, great nieces, nephews, great nephews, cousins and friends.