Shirley A. Blair

Shirley A. Blair, “Little Shirley,” 63, passed away on Wednesday, Jan. 4, 2023.

She attended Cleveland High School. Shirley had a heart of gold and loved her family and community. She would spend time taking care of the elderly and volunteering at Crosspointe Church. She was basically the neighborhood maintenance keeper, working at M.D. Dotson & Sons Funeral Home Fellowship of Praise and at Crosspointe Church. She especially loved the award given to her as an Unsung Community Hero given by the Neighbors United Counseling and Referral Services Ministry.

She enjoyed crocheting, playing spades (“she love reneging and coming back with a boston!") and dominos, gardening and dancing. She was a legend and an overall blessing to all who knew her.

Shirley loved being in the kitchen cooking and her specialty was greens and chicken gizzards and cornbread. Shirley may have been small in stature but she would not back down from anyone.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Lester McMahan and Bertha Mae Blair; grandmother, Jennie Irene Blair; two brothers, Kenneth Blair and William Blair; sister, Danisha McMahan; and son, Anthony Blair.

Survivors include her two daughters, Bertha Mae Blair and Janice Blair of Cleveland; five grandchildren, Matthew Phillips of Antioch, Mark Blair, SSgt. Destiny Mears of Illinois, Sysha Blair and Lanaja Blair, all of Cleveland; four great-grandchildren, Harleigh Johnson, Jaylah Williamson, Aleijah Blair and Elena Blair; special aunt, Willa Dean Williams of Cleveland; special cousins, Bill Williams, Tona Williams, Lynnette Blair, Sinetra Blair, Solomon Williams and Vernon Williams Jr.; sister-in-law, Maureen Cash; special friends, Ceasar Rodriguez and Jonathan (Elizabeth) Jackson; brothers and sisters, Todd McMahan, Ricky McMahan and Anthony McMahan, all of Lance, Michigan, Daria McMahan of Madison, Wisconsin, and Lestra Brown of Indianapolis, Indiana; goddaughters, Takeshia Hickey, Ruby Medrano and Aaliyah Goldston; good friend Paulette Pugh; and many nieces, nephews, cousins, classmates and friends.

Funeral services will be held on Sunday, Jan. 8, 2023, at 2 p.m. in the chapel of M.D. Dotson & Sons Funeral Home in Cleveland, with minister Solomon Williams officiating.

The family will receive friends one hour before the service at the funeral home, from 1 to 2 p.m. on Sunday, and on Saturday from 2 to 6 p.m. Masks are required.

Interment will follow the service on Sunday at Fort Hill Cemetery.