Shirley Ann (Applewhite) Barbour was born in Marion, Indiana, on February 29, 1936, to the union of Charles M. and Flora (Buchanan) Applewhite. She was the youngest of seven children. She was baptized and filled with the Holy Ghost with the evidence of speaking in tongues at the young age of 8 years old under the pastorship of Bishop W.M. Holder and began a lifelong dedication to Christ Temple Apostolic Church in Marion. She held many offices while a member of Christ Temple but nothing was more special than the trio she formed with cousins Edna Fonzer and Florence Weatherly.
Shirley matriculated through the Marion Community School system with Honors.
A little known fact is that Shirley loved fresh homemade potato chips. Every day on their walk home from school, cousin Florence would convince her, she would walk the three extra blocks with her if she would also buy her a bag. Each bag was five cents.
After graduation in 1954, she attended Indiana Business College in Marion, Indiana University at Kokomo, and Marion College (now Indiana Wesleyan University). She also obtained her Real Estate Brokers License from Beer’s School of Real Estate.
Ever the entrepreneur, Shirley opened multiple businesses in Marion, one being a shoe store (with business partner Claudette Gee) to help revitalize the downtown. Next, the first and only all black-owned real estate company (with business partners Larry Levi and Theodore Reed).
Shirley never learned the word “No”.
She was a member of the newly organized Alpha Pi Chi Sorority Marion, Indiana Chapter (Alpha Delta), where she served as Basileus. Shirley also hosted the “Black Perspectives'” on Cablevision: A Look at the Past, Present, and Future.
She will be remembered as an inspirational, courageous, and dedicated leader and friend. A celebrated civil rights advocate and visionary leader, she became the first African American Woman elected and to hold a Public Office in the City of Marion. She was elected to the city council representing Ward 4 in 1983. In November 1999, in a vote of 8-0, she was elected President of the Marion City County Council. She also served for 20 years on the Franklin Township Advisory Board, 4 years on the Municipal Utility Board, and many years on the Area Planning Board. She was also Co -Chairperson on the Race Relations Task Force. Additionally, Shirley was on the CrimeStoppers Board of Directors.
During her involvement with the Marion Urban League, she was instrumental in establishing the Neighborhood Youth Corp. which assisted the migrant workers that came to Marion. She also formed Operation Mainstream that helped people secure jobs. Shirley worked very closely with the National branch of the Urban League to combat housing discrimination in Marion. She started as Administrative Assistant (known as a secretary at that time) and worked her way up to Acting Director of the Marion Urban League. One form of discrimination she was not able to overcome while there was sexism. The Urban League found a male counterpart to replace her as Director which pushed her back to Associate Director.
Shirley never showed any form of anger or bitterness, and she always carried herself with poise and dignity. She spent her life to uplift and to better her surroundings and community for the good of ALL.
She had membership in Marion Urban League, NAACP (life member), Women’s Democrat Club, American Business Women’s Association (ABWA), Grant County Area Apartment Association (Secretary), and Eurilla Willis Auxiliary (Secretary), to name a few.
Shirley was also a participant in hypertension screening task force and the screening of preschoolers for sickle cell anemia.
Shirley received numerous civic honors and awards including: 1980 Whitney M. Young Award for Outstanding Service from Marion Urban League; 1984 Outstanding Citizen Award from National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) and the Grant County Black History Council; 1991 Woman of the Year by the Aureae Chapter of the American Business Women’s Association (ABWA).
Shirley never learned the word “No”.
Through all of her activities, she was supported and loved by her husband of 40 years before his death in 2004, Raymond E. Barbour, and four children, Jeffrey, Alexis, Joyce, and Raymond II. Although she was involved in many activities, she never neglected her children. They were her precious Kings and Queens, the reason why she tried to make the world a better place.
Shirley was preceded in death by her parents, Charles and Flora; siblings, Fredrick Douglas, Walter James, Charles Monroe, Elvia Louise, Earl Anderson, and Loretta Cornelia; husband, Raymond Earl; and daughter, Alexis Alana.
Although we know she is in a better place, she will be greatly missed by her sons, Jeffrey Wayne (Lexie), Raymond Earl, II (Brenda); daughter, Joyce Ann; grandson, Brenton Wilson; granddaughter, Yasmeen Gollman; brother-in-law, Charles Barbour; sister-in-law, Sue Ann (Dixon) Barbour; sister/cousin, Florence Weatherly; and a host of nieces, nephews, and friends.
The family will receive visitors from 4-7 p.m. on Friday, October 20, 2017, at Christ Temple Apostolic Church, 1401 S. Adams St., Marion, IN.
Services to celebrate Shirley’s life will be held at the church at 11 a.m. on Saturday, October 21, 2017, with Elder David Burchett officiating. Burial will follow at Grant Memorial Park.
Memorial contributions may be directed to Christ Temple Apostolic Church.
Arrangements are entrusted to Integrity Funeral Care, 2901 S. Washington St., Marion, IN.
Online condolences may be made to www.ifccares.com.