Shirley Jeffery Howard

Shirley Jeffery Howard

Shirley Jeffery Howard, age 93, passed in peace on Sunday, February 13, 2022, at home in Bowie, MD.  Born in Washington, D.C. on February 18, 1928, the daughter of James Hyatt Jeffery and Gladys Norwood Jeffery, formerly of Brookland NE and Chillum, MD.

Shirley was a graduate of McKinley High School in NE Washington in 1945 when life was being disrupted by World War II. Her late brother Jim Jeffery Jr., enlisted in the Army Air Corps, along with many of their classmates.  Her 1st cousin in their "greatest generation", Robert S. Jeffery, left McKinley H.S. at age 17 to enlist in the U.S. Navy during that time. Robert passed away at age 94 at his home in Alabama on February 13, 2022 – the same day as Shirley, his “youngest” cousin and buddy growing up in Chillum.

While studying at the University of Maryland, Shirley enjoyed art and interior design classes and continued painting at the National Art School in Washington. She worked as a clerk-typist for the GAO, Post Office Dept. and other federal agencies. 

In 1954 Shirley married Herbert Howard and they built a home and more family together.  She worked part time as a real estate agent and had more time - for cooking, gardening, and taking care of her two daughters. The family barbecues they enjoyed the most and more often because Herb loved to do the cooking and she enjoyed his recipes and Herb's wonderful sense of humor.

They lived in Chillum where Shirley's father and his four brothers, along with her brother all lived in homes they had built together near one another. All were craftsmen and home builders for their Jeffery Brothers family business that her grandfather had started after leaving his home in England and settling in Brookland, Washington, D.C. It was a fun time in her life walking a short way to see her parents and everyone throughout the year and especially at Christmas time. 

One day two young missionaries knocked on their door with a book called The Book of Mormon to share their beliefs in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. They were welcomed back for more questions and bible lessons.  Ultimately both Shirley and Herb were baptized and became members of the College Park LDS ward.

Their faith was tested when life took a turn and they lost a child.  She only lived one January day but Shirley named her Holly Faith in the faith that they would be together again.  A rare and fast-growing cancer just six years later in 1968 took Shirley’s dearly loved husband Herb at age 39. Herb and their daughter Holly Faith Howard are interred at Arlington National Cemetery.

Shirley returned to work at the U.S. Postal Service where she retired in 1996.

Shirley is survived by two daughters; Karen; and Leslie (and son-in-law Daniel Gentry); her grandsons; William J. Howard (and Kelley); Noah D. Kallish (and Laura); and a Great-granddaughter Eve Kallish.

Interment will be at Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, Virginia at a later date.  Date and time TBD by Arlington National Cemetery.