Shirley Jean Lipscomb was born in Tunica, Mississippi to John Curtis Lipscomb and Willie Alfith Lipscomb on November 13, 1946.

Around the age of two, the Lipscomb family moved to Kansas City, Missouri and ultimately purchased a house at 2435 Mersington, in Kansas City, Missouri, where she grew up with her brothers John Curtis Lipscomb II and William Parker Lipscomb.

She attended Greenwood Elementary School. She also attended Central Middle and Central High Schools, which she graduated from in 1964.

She married her high school sweetheart, Raymond Myers Smith, in 1965. Born to this marital union were Roderick Earl Smith, Raymond Myers Smith Jr. and Richard Anthony Smith.  Richard preceded her in death on November 22, 1992, as a result of a car accident, at the tender age of 22 years old.  Shirley and Raymond divorced in 1971.

Shirley worked for the Internal Revenue Service early in her career. She later worked for Early Childhood Education, as a teacher.  Here, she met her friend, Tondaleen Villa, with whom she would maintain a lifelong friendship until Tondaleen's death on April 9, 1996.  Shirley then worked for SAC 20 and also Mo-Kan, where she met Donna Neal, with whom she would remain friends throughout the rest of her life. Shirley also worked for Sunflower Ammunition Plant, the Law Firm of Roderick E. Smith and finally, back to the Internal Revenue Service. She retired from the Internal Revenue Service in June, 2017.

Shirley married Luther Watson on September 23, 2000. They remained married until her passing.  Shirley was a very involved bonus mother to Heather and Kevin Watson since they were young children.

Shirley was a very positive person who was always a ray of light and encouragement in the lives of others, especially the lives of her children, their wives, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and others with whom she was connected. She was affectionately called "Honey" and even more so in her retirement. She was all about family, getting together and celebrating the life accomplishments and performances of family members.  She was always the life of the gathering and was dressed festively for every occasion, as she was in the place and with the people she wanted to be with at every family function. She was also an avid reader who loved to travel.

She leaves to cherish her memory, her husband, Luther Watson; her children, Roderick Earl Smith (Glenda) and Raymond Myers Smith Jr. (Monica), Heather Watson (Dalontee) and Kevin Watson; her brother, John Curtis Lipscomb, II;  grandchildren, Shantell Perry, Raymond Myers Smith III, Miya Alys Smith, Richard Anthony Smith, Roderick Mbembe Smith, Rian Ashanti Phoenix Smith, Delontee Edgerton Jr., and Drew Edgerton; great-grandchildren, Raymond Myers Smith IV, Sy'aire Roberts, and Emani Smith; additionally, Arquella Hargrove, who she considered to be her daughter and nephew, John Curtis Lipscomb III.

Thoughtful care and services provided by E. S. Eley & Sons Funeral Chapel, Inc .