Shirley Brooks-Jones, Part 3 of 3

At 90 years old, Shirley Brooks-Jones has a wealth of wisdom and more stories than you can count.

She’s gone from small-town girl to a globe-trotting delegate for peace. If her story ended there, it would be impressive enough…but it doesn’t.

What happens next is so unpredictable, no one, including Shirley, could have seen it coming. It’s a tale that includes royal connections, a Broadway production, and somehow, an educational silver lining to the 9-11 terror attack on US soil.

So far...
It’s clear Shirley Brooks-Jones is a powerhouse - helping her family as a child and serving for decades as an international representative for President Eisenhower’s People to People Program (for peace), but that’s not the end, not by a long shot.

If you recall, Shirley started her career shortly after graduating high school, where she’d taken typing and shorthand. She’ll tell you those were the two most important classes she ever took, and credits them for helping her land the university job.

In 1989 Shirley retired from Ohio State, 35 years after first setting foot on campus, but she had unfinished business. Turns out, Shirley had always wanted to go to college herself, so upon retirement she earned her Bachelor’s Degree from, you guessed it, The Ohio State University!

What does all this have to do with a life of service? Well, as it turns out, education is a big deal in the life of Shirley Brooks-Jones. This is where we have to pivot with Shirley’s story. So just keep this educational tidbit in the back of your mind.

Pivot
At 90 years old, if you ask Shirley to tell you about her favorite memory, you might be surprised. She’ll tell you it involves 9-11. That’s right, September 11, 2001, the day that two planes crashed into New York’s Twin Towers causing unfathomable death and destruction.

That fateful day forever changed the course of Shirley’s life. It also changed the course of her airplane. When the attack happened, Shirley was flying back to the states after a People to People trip that had taken to her to Denmark and Germany. Mid-flight, her plane (and 37 others) were diverted to Gander, Newfoundland.

Still on the plane 28 hours after landing, passengers would finally learn of the terrorist attack on US soil. Numb, in disbelief, and with no resources, Shirley and about 7,000 fellow travelers were grounded - indefinitely.

Dubbed the “plane people” by locals, Shirley spent the next six days relying on the kindness of strangers.

Not permitted to fly, thousands were transported to nearby tiny towns. Shirley ended up in Lewisporte where the Lions Club provided aid, but it wasn’t only organizations that helped. Townspeople shared what they had – food, clothing, even medicine at no cost. This, as Shirley tells it, is a place that has very little money. It reminded Shirley of her own humble beginnings, and it touched her heart that the locals would give so much, to so many, when they themselves were struggling.

It was here, out of tragedy, that came some of Shirley’s most cherished memories. During those six stranded days, Shirley formed an attachment to the area. She became friends with locals, and when she found herself finally back on the plane, Shirley wondered how she could ever repay their kindness. That’s when she learned about the children.

Back to Education
In discussions with fellow passengers, Shirley discovered many students drop out of school due to lack of jobs and opportunity. With this revelation came an idea. Why not set up a scholarship fund to support the children, and therefore the future of this wonderful place and people who gave so freely.

As of 2025, 438 Newfoundlanders have been awarded the scholarship, an amazing gift to attend any accredited university in the world or technical opportunity of their choosing. Graduates have gone on to do wonderful things, and many have returned home, helping the area to prosper. Shirley has returned as well, at least 30 times to visit and present the scholarship.

In one of Shirley’s visits, she was asked to speak with a touring couple and relay her 9-11/scholarship experience. That couple turned out to be (the then) Prince Charles and Camilla. Imagine Shirley’s surprise when Prince Charles said to her, “Oh! You’re the American woman I’ve heard about!”

Yes, Shirley is indeed special. Known to royalty, people all over the world, and nearly everyone in Newfoundland, Shirley is a treasure. In 2007 she received the Order of the Newfoundland and Labrador Medallion, the highest honor given to residents. Shirley is the first-ever non-Newfoundlander to receive this prestigious award!

Shirley’s 9-11 experience was also featured on Broadway. The musical Come from Away ran from 2017-2022. It detailed the Newfoundland experience. Shirley’s character was portrayed by James Earl Jones II.

As for the Scholarship, it’s going strong. You can learn more and support the scholarship by visiting: www.thecolumbusfoundation.org and searching for Lewisporte Area Flight 15 Scholarship Fund.

Next up: The Fidrofa Excellence School in Rwanda