Shirley D. Newman, 87, became an angel on Friday, December 11 at 2:14 a.m. Shirley was a beacon of light for so many people throughout her life. She led her life with a promise of meeting her maker in heaven. Heaven gained a God-worshipping warrior!

Shirley served several schools in the Alton area as a Grandma to Kindergarten and 1st grade students, teaching them many things such as tying shoes, coloring between the lines, and cutting and pasting among other things, just to name a few. For many years after she left being a Grandma, kids, even as teenagers, would come up to her and say, 'Hey, you're Grandma Shirley from School!', which always made her day.

Shirley was preceded in death by her parents, Oliver J. and Blanche E. (Lewis) Hill; husbands Gerald Keller and Loren Newman; a brother, James Hill; and sisters, Mary Lou Sanders, Marie Bailey, Lenora Ginn, and her twin sister, Charlotte Brown.

She is survived by a brother, Marcus Korsemeyer; numerous nieces and nephews; and a very special nephew, Steve Sanders, who was always there for her.

In addition, Shirley is also survived by special friends she considered her family, Jack and Judy Landreth, Jackie (Kevin) Nordmann, Julie (Dave) Ezell, Keira Shelton, Kamdyn Ezell, Hadley, William and Louis Nordmann, and LaJeanne (Homer) Salzman.

Due to Covid-19 restrictions, there will be a private viewing and service on Tuesday, Dec. 15.

Interment will be at Rose Lawn Memory Gardens in Bethalto.

Memorials may be made to Hitz Memorial Home, 201 Belle St., Alhambra, IL 62001. They took exceptional and loving care of Shirley during her stay.

Paynic Home for Funerals in Rosewood heights is in charge of arrangements, and an online guestbook is available at www.paynicfh.com