Missionary Shirley Mae Calloway-Louis

God’s truth is, we were never born to stay here but each are given as a vapour in the wind, the opportunity to make an impression in this world on our way to the eternal destiny of our choice.

She’d always said, “The best things happen in June!” On June 26th, 1952, God saw fit to give to the Union of Prince Albert Calloway Sr. and Katie Calloway a baby girl, child #11, Shirley Calloway. Even in her younger years she always made it known she was a “daddy’s baby”. Always one to follow Daddy to the cotton fields, her sack only “miraculously” filled after a good nap when it was time to weigh and go to the store. She often admitted to how much he spoiled her.

The devil tried his best to stop God’s plan for her life as he literally tried to steal her mind. She was under attack daily until she was sent to Seattle,WA, to live with her big sister and brother-in-law. In Seattle, she had a “Damascus” encounter at a Holiness revival and truly began to live for the Lord and continued to work out her “Soul Salvation”. Having returned back home, new mind and new spirit she began attending local singing events and quartet programs where she met and eventually won over a slender young guitar playing high tenor for The Heavenly Travelers by the name of Hilton Louis, Jr. It did not take long for the two to fall in love and eventually wed on June 1, 1971. Over the next four years they moved to various places across the country until eventually they settled down and made permanent roots back home in Monroe. Hilton often bragged about Madear paid him pretty good to take her off her hands.

As their life grew, to this union was born four natural children and one adoption, LaTyara, Hilton Christopher, Fredrick, Jeremy, and LaTonya. They eventually settled together and attended Empire Church of Deliverance (late Rev. Jim Moore) and then to the Holy House of Prayer (late Pastor John Burns), and eventually followed and supported his brother in ministry in the founding of Unity Church of God In Christ. As the ministry grew Shirley took on many hats. Her favorite two were undoubtedly as leader of Hospitality where people from all over the state made sure not to miss a program at Unity because you knew you going to be feed good. The other joy of her life was as leader the Sunshine Band and Youth Department where the church grew by leaps and bounds. She eventually was called to be The First Lady of the Heavenly Travelers C.O.G.I.C as God elevated Pastor Louis to Pastoral duty.

It will never be clear, the total number of lives she changed in the process of doing the work God put to her hand but from the many who have come to affectionately call her “Auntie” or “TT” Shirley that foundation is laid for life. Her joy in Life was that she got to see all of children married and give her the grandchildren she so cherished.

She is preceded in death by her parents Prince Albert Calloway, Sr. and Katie Harris Calloway; siblings Bernard Calloway; Roosevelt Calloway; Teresa Calloway Sledge; Reverend Willie Calloway; John Calloway; and Irene Calloway Casteel;

She leaves to cherish her memories, a devoted loving husband of 48 years, Pastor Hilton Louis, Jr.; her five (5) children, LaTyara Louis-Cooper (Gary Wayne) Monroe, La ;{her son: oldest Grandchild, Kandaryan Lenair Louis}; Hilton Christopher Louis (Karmone) Monroe, La;{their children: Krystin Nicole “Katie”, Dyana-Armani “Kayla”, Lauren Annastasia, ‘Sweet-pea’}; Fredrick Louis (Erika) of Monroe,LA;{their children Rayna “Raye” Hannon, and Genesis ‘Gi-Gi’ Chisley}; Jeremy Louis I (Aria) of Atlanta,Ga;{their child Jeremy Louis II,’J2’}; LaTonya Louis-Shinal (Shun) of Jackson, MS;{their family, Shundarius Shinal, ‘Peanut’; Kamden Shinal ‘Kam}

She also leaves her memories to one great aunt Valena Winston (Alonzo) and her living siblings, Ora Winston (Lemmie), Seattle,Wa; Rev. Manuel Calloway, Monroe ,LA; Rev. David Calloway (Josie), Dallas, TX; Florenstene Johnston, Monroe, LA; Ophelia Lockett, Dallas, TX; Prince Albert Calloway, Jr.(Venetta), Monroe, LA; Leroy Calloway, Monroe, LA; Elder Freddie Calloway (Geneva), Monroe, LA;

She is celebrated and honored by a whole host of cousins, nieces, nephews, god-children, friends, family both by blood and by love. She is cherished by all who knew her and now ceases from her earthly labor to receive her heavenly reward.

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