Shirley Ann Graves, lived to the age of 90, passed away at home in Hayes, VA., on September 26, 2024, after losing a long-fought battle with Dementia. She was born in Springfield, Illinois on July 6, 1934, to Quincy Henderson Bradley Sr. and Dorthy Marie Brooks (both deceased) .

At a young age, the family moved from Springfield, Illinois to Brooklyn, New York.  There she attended and graduated from Erasmus High School, in the Flatbush section of Brooklyn.  Shirley later relocated to New Bern NC, where she met and married James Buck Kelley, in 1953. He later passed on July 13, 1986.

In 1970, she graduated from nursing school in Brooklyn, NY. Her career in nursing led to her working at several hospitals as an operating room nurse, which was her passion.

Later, she met and married Donald Walter Graves. They left New York after their retirement and moved to Wilmington Delaware. After Donald Graves death on April 14, 2009, she then moved to Hayes, VA., in 2019.

Shirley was extremely active and involved in many clubs and organizations such as the yacht club, bowling league, and the NYC 73rd Precinct Community Council just to name a few.   Shirley was also an avid reader.  Her love for books allowed her to finish a book in as little as a day.  Shirley enjoyed arts and crafts such as coloring, and she enjoyed traveling.  She traveled the world enjoying both cruises, international or domestic travel and especially enjoyed visiting various military installations where her sons were stationed.

Shirley was preceded in death by both husbands, (James Kelley and Donald Graves); her mother and father, one daughter, Anna Marie Kelley and only brother, Quincy Bradley Jr. She leaves to mourn, 6 children - Michelle Ray, Linda McKiever, Denise Crumbs (Marvin), James Kelley, Phillip Kelley, and Ernest Kelley (Donna), 6 stepchildren, Renee, Kim, Juan, Timothy and Khadija. Her 28 grandchildren, Kiara, Ralph (Yesenia), Alicea, Thelbert, Shavonne, Nicole, Quentin, LaToya, Edward, Phillip, Steven, Stephanie, Dorothy, Edwina, Wanda, Montel, Alicia (George), Tareasha, Raheim, Terrell, Jamel, Brenetta, Donte (Erica), Marshall, Vanessa, Donald, Satara, Bithia. About 30 great grandchildren, 3 great-great grandchildren, 1 niece, Jacqueline Rose a Godson, Dwayne Holloway and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.

A memorial service will be held 1:30 p.m., Saturday, October 5, 2024 at Cooke Bros. Funeral Chapel, 1601-27th Street, Newport News, Va.