Obituary of Shirley J. Osborne

Shirley Jean Scott Osborne entered into eternal rest on July 2, 2021, surrounded by her family at Virtua Our Lady of Lourdes Medical Center in Camden, NJ. Shirley was born on July 9, 1950, to the late Russell and Sarah (Henderson) Scott in Brooklyn, NY. In the mid-1960s, Shirley’s family relocated to what is now known as Florence Estates in Winslow Township, NJ. Shirley attended Edgewood Regional Sr. High, where she met many people, but Gertrude Walker and Frances Randolph became the sisters she didn’t have. Shirley had a passion for the elderly and began her career as a Human Services Technician at St. Mary’s Convalescent home in Cherry Hill, NJ working alongside her mother. She later became employed at NJ Veteran’s Memorial Home in Vineland, NJ, where she worked until she was injured on the job. Not one to let her back injury stop her from supporting her family, Shirley attended PB Beauty School and became a nail technician. For many years she did nails in her home to support herself and her family. When her grandson Erek was born, she decided to become a caregiver in her home to help her daughter with childcare, and she also took care of her other grandchildren while their parents worked. When Shirley’s family moved to South Jersey, they attended First Baptist Church of Florence Estates. Shirley later became a member of Christ Care Unit Missionary Baptist Church and Cathedral under the leadership of Bishop Robert F. Hargrove, Sr. While at CCU, she served faithfully on the Adult Choir, Mass Choir, worked on various special event committees. Her greatest joy was being the Chairperson of the Missionary Ministry and working on the Kitchen Committee. The Missionary Ministry and Kitchen committee allowed her to do what she enjoyed doing the most, cooking. Her potato salad and pound cakes were a favorite of many. As Shirley got older, she felt a tug to go back to First Baptist of Florence Estates. Shirley was preceded in death by her parents Russell and Sarah Scott, and her brothers William Edward and Joseph. Although she gave birth to two children, she was a loving mother to Daynell Nicholson, Tina Osborne, Elijah Osborne, and Anna Osborne. There were no “step-children” because, in her eyes, they were all her children. Shirley leaves to cherish her memory; her daughter, Tamara Serita, son, Elvin Jerrell, nephew that she raised Saad(Lydia), Daynell, Tina, Elijah and Anna; 21 grandchildren; 9 great-grand children; brother Richard (Mary) Bey, Sisters Frances Randolph and Annie Lloyd; a host of nieces, nephews cousins, friends and church family as well as her Sister/Friends Carolyn Williams, Charlene Allen, Gail Gardner, Sissy Taylor, Susan Primas and Nona Dawson.