Shirley Riley Obituary - Visitation & Funeral Information

Shirley May Hollis McManus Riley was born to the late James Hollis and the late Edna Burno Hollis Broomsey in New Orleans, LA and Step father, the late Reverend Dallas Broomsey of Kingston, Jamaica; Shirley departed this life and transitioned on Thanksgiving Day, November 26, 2015. Shirley was baptized by the late Rev. Granerson of the Austerlitz Street Baptist Church, taught Sunday School, and a lifelong Austerlitz member; She was educated in the New Orleans Public Schools and graduated from McDonough 35 Senior High; she completed Business School and began a career as a Clerical Secretary to include Shorthand as a Bookkeeper and Accountant with the Gertrude Geddes Funeral Homes and Insurance Company. Her career later included computer skills earning her a Masion Blanche Department Manager, Medical secretary at Hotel Dieu, and Avon Manager. She was an active Democratic Campaign Advocate/Pollster, and held a Parent Teacher Association (PTA) Presidency for several years in the Orleans Parish Public Schools. Calvin McManus met and married Shirley. The marriage dissolved with children; the late Thyra McManus Henderson Griffin (2011), the late Calvin McManus, Jr. (2014), Edna McManus Rolle Rowe, the late Debra McManus (1993) and Alonzo “Lonnie” J. Riley. Shirley raised her children quoting Bible scriptures as lessons to guide their lives forever but she did not spare the rod. A stern disciplinarian, that believed “Obedience is better than sacrifice,” I Samuel 15:22 and “You reap what you sow,” Galatians 6:7-8. Shirley led by example. She enjoyed music, singing, dancing, eating, and in her spare time she kept up with the Soap operas (Edge of Night, Guiding Light and As the World Turns). She made costumes for school plays, collected for the March of Dimes, Easter Seals and supported the Lighthouse for the Blind for years. A childhood sweetheart, the late great trumpet player, Theodore “Tompe” Riley (1992) reconnected and married Shirley. Shirley is survived by her daughter, Edna McManus Rowe (Joseph Rowe, Jr.) of Washington, DC; son, Lonnie Riley of Wichita, KS; sister, Narcisse Hollis Zeigler and brother-in-law, the late Abraham Zeigler; eight grandchildren, the late Melvin L. Henderson, Angelia Henderson and Jocobi Griffin of DC, Ticonderia and Calvin McManus, III (Leslie), Vernon M. Rowe of D.C, Dena and Bianca McManus; thirteen great grandchildren, Melvin Minor, James of Miami, FL., Hasheem, and Jameliah Lewis, Bryana Gray and Josiah Griffin of DC, Kendal McManus Thomas and Jodici McManus, Keylan and Kiera McManus, Brianna McManus, Tai Sherman, and Taylor Ulmer; nephews, Abraham Zeigler (Denise) of Birmingham, AL., and Rene Zeigler (Melanie); great nephews, Aldridge, Avery of Birmingham, AL and Jamal Zeigler of Dallas, TX; great nieces/nephews, and a host of cousins, family and friends. Relatives and friends of the family are invited to attend a funeral service at 10:00 AM on Saturday, December 5, 2015 at Austerlitz B.C., 819 Austerlitz St. Visitation will be from 9:00 AM until 10:00 AM. Interment: Providence Cemetery. Arrangements by Rhodes Funeral Home. Please visit www.rhodesfuneral.com to sign the online guest book.