Education - Shirley Brooks-Jones, Part 1 of 3

As the eldest of 9 children, you could say Shirley was born into a life of service.

Named after famed child actress, Shirley Temple, our Shirley’s life couldn’t have been further from the glitz and glamour of Hollywood, but it is a story that ends on a Broadway stage, involves a prince and a president and countless others around the world.

About Shirley
Shirley Brooks-Jones was born in 1936 in Vinton, County Ohio.

Looking at Shirley today, you might be fooled by her welcoming smile and small stature, but make no mistake, Shirley-Brooks Jones is a force.

In this 3-part series we’ll share her story, a tale that travels the world, involves a prince and a president, a critically acclaimed Broadway play and so much more…but first, back to modest Vinton County where it all started more than nine decades ago.

Humble Beginnings
Born in one of the least populated and poorest parts of the state, money and jobs were scarce.

As the eldest of 9 children, you could say Shirley was born into a life of service. Named after famed child actress, Shirley Temple, our Shirley’s life couldn’t have been farther from the glitz and glamour of Hollywood.

There weren’t many new toys, if any. There was no eating out. There were no special camps, parties, or vacations. Instead, as the eldest sibling, Shirley worked hard helping her parents take care of her 4 brothers and 4 sisters. As you can imagine, there was no shortage of cooking, cleaning, and ironing.

Today, Shirley will tell you her favorite food is whatever’s put in front of her, a response that, no doubt, stems from her early years.

At four years old, Shirley’s parents moved to Columbus, Ohio for work. As the state’s capital, Columbus was a lot larger than Shirley’s hometown. It even had its own movie theater!

As long as Shirley took her brother, she was permitted to go to the movies on Saturday afternoons. The Garden Theater became a highlight of Shirley’s formative years. For 3 cents, movie-goers were treated to previews, 2 full length movies, world news, and an episode from exciting programs like Tarzan or Mummy. It was a time of respite for a child, who at such a young age, was already living a life of service.

Next up: Shirley's Story Continues—In Part 2, we’ll discover how Shirley’s childhood work ethic and service to family transformed into a life of service to countless others all around the world!