Currently there is a movie in town entitled, ‘Alexander the Great’. I think it is fair to say that Alexander is generally consider to be great because of the size and scale of what he achieved during his lifetime. It would also have been because of large numbers of people that actually witnessed his achievements some 2000 years ago. There have of course been many great man and women who have lived their lives during the past. Another example would be the Roman Emperor Julius Caesar. Those of us who did Latin as a school subject are well acquainted with Julius Caesar and his Gallic Wars.

By now I would imagine that you are starting to wonder what these great figures of history have to do with the reason for us being here this afternoon.

Firstly I would like to suggest that most lives lived have been great. The phrase ‘It is great to be alive’ says it all. So Shirley’s life certainly was great and that is how she will be remembered by those that knew and loved her.

Secondly the orator at Caesar’s funeral supposedly started by saying, ‘I come to bury Caesar, not to praise him’. I would like to say, I certainly did not come to Welkom this time to bury Shirley, I have now came to Welkom in order to join with you in celebrating Shirley’s life and what she meant to us.

My earliest recollection of Shirley is of having to share a bedroom with her as a small, but older brother, and having to periodically check under her bed for ‘boogie men’. Not so chivalrous during those early years, are my recollections of my devious efforts to persuade her to part with her share of cake or sweets, once I had consumed my own. My successes on these occasions were largely due to Shirley’s kindness and not my skills of persuasion.

My other significant early recollection of Shirley was that she was mostly a quite and reserved person. She was also very tidy, and extremely organized. She also never had a large circle of friends. Instead she seemed to always have a few very special friends. I now marvel at the extent of the friendships she made here in Welkom. I have also marvelled at the amount of talking that went on. These friends were also all special and provided Shirley with the life she could enjoy despite of her physical disabilities. We should now celebrate and be grateful for these friendships. May these folk be blessed because of the time they spent with Shirley.

More recently, and by that I mean for the greater part of the past twenty years, Shirley has lived at 40 Mercutio Street In Welkom with her daughter, Jenny and our mother, Vivienne. When I was thinking about what I would say today, I struggled to find a phrase that would describe the three women that lived at number 40. In the end I could not find anything suitable so I have fallen back on one of the basic principles of design. Basically the principle dictates that if you want to display a few items then it is a good idea to display three of them. That is why you will see three ornaments arranged on a shelf, three fountains in a pond or three paintings on an otherwise blank wall.

I would like to suggest that three women sharing a house is another example of the successful application of this principle. Maybe we should establish this as a principle guideline for women sharing a home. It would be tremendous if it could be called the ‘Shirley’s first rule for women sharing a home’.

I would now like to end with a short dedication to each of the three women that until recently lived at that 40 Mercutio Street in Welkom.

The first is my Mom. I would like to thank her for doing what was necessary to acquire and then to manage the home that 40 Mercutio Street has been for all of them. Her devotion in this respect has been selfless.

The second would Shirley. Shirley was the only person in my extended family who could not only recall everyone’s birth dates, but remembered these birthdays as well. If I have any regrets, it would be that Shirley was robbed of the opportunity of making more of her intellect. However she more than made up for that loss in terms of the dedication, devotion and love she herself demonstrated as a mother.

Last, but certainly not least would be Shirley’s daughter, Jenny. She has been an inspiration for her mother and has demonstrated extraordinary devotion both towards her mother and her grandmother. She also attained distinctions and awards that any mother would be extremely proud of. Shirley certainly was.

Hambe Khale Shirley.

Thank you.