Shirley James Hudson was born February 11, 1938 to Lois Merritt James & Jackson James Sr. After her parents’ marriage dissolved, her mother married Donald Maple.

Shirley was loved and cherished by her devoted parents. Shirley accepted Jesus Christ at an early age in Mt. Zion Baptist Church. She was Mt. Zion’s pianist for many years. Later in life she was a devoted member of Friendship Church.

Shirley attended and graduated from Manual Training High School, Muskogee, OK; with the Class of 1955. She went on to receive her higher education from Lincoln University, Jefferson City, MO.

Shirley J. Hudson, Pearl Soror, Life Member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. She chaired and served in various committees. She was initiated into Alpha Iota Chapter at Lincoln University in Jefferson City, MO; on April 27, 1957.

After receiving her degree, she returned to Oklahoma and started her career as an Educator in Sand Springs, OK. Later she made a career change, working for IBM where she retired.

Shirley met and married Jesse D. Hudson, and to this union, two sons were born, Jesse D. Hudson, Jr. and Jeffery Hudson.

She was preceded in death by her loving husband, Jesse Sr., parents, Jackson James Sr. and Lois Maple, her paternal and maternal grandparents and brother, Jackson James Jr.

Those left to cherish her memory, her sons, Jesse Jr., Jeffery and grandson, Jamon Hudson, stepdaughter Renee Slaughter, Kansas City, KS, her brothers, Ronald Maple and Donald Maple of Texas, her sister-in-law, Dorothy James, Muskogee, OK; along with a number of cousins, nephews, nieces and friends.

A Celebration of Life is scheduled, Thursday, July 2, 2026, 11:00 a.m., House of Winn Funeral Home & Cremations, "Precious Memories Chapel", 2200 Military Blvd., Muskogee, OK; with Pastor Jamaal Dyer, delivering the eulogy. Interment will follow in Booker T. Washington Cemetery, Muskogee, OK.

Visitation will be Wednesday, July 1, 2026, 1:00 p.m. until 4:00 p.m.

The family has been cared for by House of Winn-Muskogee