Mrs. Shirley Jean Robinson Stills

Mrs. Shirley Stills, 81, of Newport News, VA, passed away on May 12, 2024, and entered into eternal rest.

Shirley Jean Robinson Stills was born on March 21, 1943, in Manatee County, Florida. She lived a blessed and fulfilling life as the cherished daughter of the late Gladys Lane-Davis and J.Y. Robinson. After graduating from Lincoln Memorial High School in Palmetto, Florida, she attended Gibbs Community College in St. Petersburg, Florida. In 1963, she met Rufus L. Stills and married him in June 1965. As a military wife from October 1965, Shirley and Rufus raised two daughters, Natasha and Sonja (Bonnie), through numerous deployments in Germany and various states including Maryland, New Mexico, Alabama, Missouri, and Virginia. Initially a homemaker, Shirley later joined Siemens Automotive in Newport News, Virginia, as an assembler, retiring in August 2008.

Shirley was multi-talented with diverse interests, excelling in cooking and creative activities such as sewing, crocheting, gardening, and ceramics. Her enduring friendship with Ethel “Mae” Graves, another military wife, was deeply cherished. Together, they created intricate ceramic pieces that not only beautified their homes but also became treasured gifts.

Shirley’s impeccable style was a signature of her vibrant personality. She dressed with elegance and confidence, her wardrobe reflecting the fashion trends of each era, from fifties poodle skirts to seventies bell bottoms and eighties shoulder pads.

Famed for her impeccable style, Shirley consistently presented herself with elegance and confidence. Her perfectly styled hair, manicured nails, and coordinated outfits mirrored the fashion trends of each decade, from swinging a fifties poodle skirt to rocking seventies bell bottoms and sporting eighties shoulder pads. Shirley’s fashion sense was a reflection of her vibrant personality and elegant poise.

The nineties brought significant changes for Shirley. As her daughters embarked on to college and her husband retired after thirty years of military service, She faced a personal battle with breast cancer and emerged victorious. She embraced life fully throughout the 2000s, working full-time, traveling, and staying involved with her daughters, all while affectionately overseeing her husband’s tasks.

Post-retirement in 2008, Shirley dedicated more time to her garden and cherished the frequent conversations with her daughters, often recounting her husband’s antics with humor and love, starting with “You know what your dad did…”. She was frequently spotted cruising through Newport News in her small white convertible, her fluffy dog Czar accompanying her.

Shirley leaves behind her devoted husband, Rufus L. Stills; daughters Natasha Stills and Sonja O. Stills; brother Napoleon King; Ronald Lane (Barbara) and Darryl Lane (Bernita); sisters Janice Lane (Jessie) and Juanita Fields (Paul); along with numerous treasured family members and friends. Her beloved grand-dogs, Cashmere Bob and Camo Joe, also survive her.

Shirley’s life stands as a beacon of love, resilience, and grace, her memory a source of inspiration and solace for those who knew and cherished her.