Obituary of Shirley Jean Horton

Shirley Jean Horton, nee Hines, was born to David and Sarah Hines (Wright) on November 11, 1940. She was raised with sister Joann Schaa and her brother David Hines Jr. in Ossining, NY. She went to be with the Lord on Monday April 15, 2019. She was a teenager when her beloved father passed away, and was charged with assisting her mother with raising her younger sister and brother. During this time, she also assisted her cousin Cassender “Carrie” with her 14 children, one of which was named after Shirley. Through her love of family and serving, her caregiving sprit was born. She attended the Ossining Public School System and graduated from Phelps Nursing School in Sleepy Hollow, NY. Shirley was a member of St. Matthews United Methodist Church in Ossining. As a child she took piano lessons with her friend George Horton who later became her High School sweetheart. She sang with the sought after Jernigan Singers who travelled throughout NY signing the gospel favorites of the day. Shirley also played the organ for a number of churches in the local area. In 1963, she married George and moved with him to Oklahoma where he was stationed in the United States Army. After his honorable discharge, George and Shirley moved to Corning, NY where Lisa and Jill were born. In 1970 the family moved to Englewood, NJ where Shirley resided until her passing. In 1970 Shirley was hired by Holy Name Hospital in Teaneck, NJ as an LPN. She worked in the pediatric department and cared for a myriad of children and teenagers, nursing them back to health. She was sought after by both the children as well as their parents because she lent a caring ear and a helping hand. In 1996, Shirley was honored to receive the Governor’s Nursing Merit Award for her stellar service to others and her commitment to the community by Governor Christine Todd Whitman. That year, she was also honored as the Woman of the Year by the First Baptist Church of Englewood, NJ. Shirley created and supervised Holy Name Hospital’s Sniffles Club, one of the only sick day care centers in the region, allowing parents to go to work and leave their sick children in excellent care. The Sniffles Club was such a success, Shirley was featured in the Holy Name Hospital Health Watch Magazine in 1997. The Sniffles Club is still in operation today. Throughout the years of her service to the Lord, Shirley served as a deaconess, alter guild director, armor bearer, missionary and, of course, church mother. Shirley was active throughout her life, and for many years served in the Girls Scouts of Bergen County, the Quettes, the Dwight Morrow High School PTA, and Band Parents. Ms. Shirley was the team grandmother for many AAU teams, Team Next, the Metro Hawks, St. Benedicts Prep, and other college basketball teams and leagues. Shirley was an inspiration, sounding board, encourager, corrector, and all around mother to all with whom she came in contact. Last year, she received the Trailblazers in the Medical and Health Fields award from the Abyssinian Baptist Church Women’s Ministry. A few years ago, Shirley officially “retired” from Holy Name, but worked per diem a few days per week until late 2018. She worked because she wanted to continue caring and sharing with those who needed her love, care and attention. Shirley is predeceased by her parents David and Sarah Hines, and her grandsons Matthew George and Mark David Miller. She leaves to mourn her daughters Lisa Taylor (Thomas), Jill Horton-Miller (Barry); sister Joann Schaa, and brother David Hines, Jr. (Henrietta); grandchildren Alyssa Joy Ford, Barry Miller, Jr. and John Miller; great-grandson Malakai Miller; nieces Melonae Ellison (Eugene), and Meredith Hines; nephews David Hines, Joseph Hines, David Troy Hines (Whitney); godsons Alexander Brown, Aaron Brown, and Andrew Brown. She also leaves to celebrate her life a host of family, friends, colleagues and patients.