Albany NY –

Shirley Denise Lumpkin 65 was called to be with the Lord on Thursday, October 22, 2020.

Shirley was born on December 29, 1954 in Fort Benning, Georgia, daughter of Clara Lumpkin and the late Arthur Lumpkin Jr.

Shirley was raised in Albany, NY with her siblings. She was the eldest of eight children. Three boys and five girls. Shirley graduated from Albany High School. Soon after she signed up for Karate School where she received her belts in 1976. She wanted to try something different while working in the mailroom for OGS at the Empire State Plaza, so she applied at Chauffer Training School to drive Tractor Trailers. She always wanted to drive trucks and was inspired after seeing her uncle driving them. Shirley was the only female in her class of twenty men. She never felt discriminated against, she always felt that she was “one of the guys”. She took her first road test in an eighteen wheeler and passed with no mistakes.

Later, she moved to New York City to pursue her trucking career, driving to different states for many years until she grew tired and decided to settle down and began working as a postal carrier in Queens, NY where she retired. While living in New York City she attended two “Five Borough Bike” marathons that traveled all five boroughs for New York.

Shirley was filled with so much life. She was energetic, strong and very compassionate. She had a huge smile that would light up the room and your spirit. She had an amazing sense of humor, laughter was her medicine to the soul. She enjoyed being around people. She will start a conversation with anyone even if she didn’t know you and it didn’t matter of the race, gender or age. She will talk to a stranger like they been friends for years. Although she was very lovable, she was also tough and didn’t take any mess. Shirley love to dance. Music was her therapy, she enjoyed all types of music but her favorite was house music. Everyone who came across Shirley fell in love with her. She had a big personality that left an impact. She was known for her phrases of “Bye for now”, “Keep it real” and “Holler back”.

In addition to her father Shirley is predeceased by her sister, Daphne Jean Lumpkin, granddaughter, Carlayjah Lumpkin, grandmothers; Nellie Bell Henderson and Lonnie Lumpkin, aunts; Annie Ray Jones, Annie Clyde Henderson, Mildred Henderson, Dorothy Jean Shipman-Henderson and Ernestine Henderson.

Shirley leaves to cherish her memory her two children; daughter, Daphne Lumpkin and son, Carl Lumpkin, her grandchildren; Messiah Derritt-Lumpkin, Carniesha Lumpkin and Jaiden Lumpkin, her god-daugher; Melody Brown and god-son Treshawn Routh, her siblings; Angela Lumpkin,
Cassandra Lumpkin, Janet (Michael) Pinkney, Arthur L. Lumpkin, Malvin Lumpkin and Maurelle Lumpkin.

A visitation will be held Friday October 30 from 10am-11am with a service to follow at 11am at New Jerusalem Church. 160 Sheridan Avenue Albany, NY. Interment to follow at Graceland Cemetery 680 Delaware Avenue, Albany NY