Shirley Mae

Moore

Obituary

Shirley Mae Moore

March 15th, 1936 ~ February 20th, 2016

S hirley Mae Moore (nee Keene) was born on March 15, 1936 in Ahoskie, NC. As a child and teen, she attended Calvin Scott Brown Elementary and High School, and also attended Pleasant Plains Baptist Church.

Shirley married John Hardy and had two children during that union. After a divorce, Shirley moved to New York City and met Clarence "Phil" Moore (originally of St. Louis, Missouri) whom she married. Of that union she bore four children. After 20 years in NYC, the Moore family moved to Englewood, NJ in September 1977. (She never forgot when we rolled into town at 4 a.m. when the moving truck's spare tire had a flat!)

Mother Moore was a long-time member of Mt. Olive Baptist Church in East Orange, NJ -- presided by Reverend Michael J. Jordan. She loved to hear Rev. Jordan preach and especially loved to hear him sing. She was sad that she was not physically able to attend her beloved Church on a regular basis, but was happy when some of her Church family would visit -- including Rev. Jordan and his wife Harriet.

There are many stories of the Keene family, but the one that stands out the most is how Shirley got the nickname "Pig". Her father, Solomon, gave her the nickname because she just loved corn on the cob. He would say "I never knew anyone who loved corn more than a pig". Afterwards, her siblings started calling her "Pig". Until her death, the older nieces and nephews who grew up on the same farm lovingly called her "Pig" whenever they talked.

Shirley is survived by her sister, Mrs. Joyce Harris of Newport News, VA; her children: Michael Hardy of Petersburgh, VA; Cheryl (Fred) Stith (nee Hardy) of Petersburgh, VA; Sharon Moore of Teaneck, NJ; Stanley (Jeannie) Moore of Columbia, SC; Angela Moore and Philip Moore – both of Englewood, NJ. 13 grandchildren, 6 great-grandchildren, a host of nieces, nephews, extended family and friends.

Shirley is predeceased by her parents, Solomon and Sallie Keene (nee Hall); her husband of 40 years – Clarence "Phil" Moore; siblings: Collis Keene, Mrs. Marion Lassiter, and Mrs. Mary Holt.