Shirley Metcalf - Obituary

he arrived in this world on May 28, 1936, in Pleasant Hills, North Carolina as the seventh in what was to ultimately be ten children born to Waverly and Missouri Hardy. Waverly and Missouri Hardy were the patriarchs of a hardworking family of sharecroppers consisting of Shirley and her siblings, Celestine Harper, Lucille Hardy Robinson, Bertha Berlin, Hazel Hudson, Millard Hardy, Clifton Hardy, Cornelia Hardy, Lola Sykes, and Sadie Risby. Inspired by her older sibling who had begun establishing themselves in the big cities, after becoming a proud graduate of Gumberry High School in Gumberry, North Carolina she moved to Washington, DC. While in DC she met and married the charming Hollis Metcalf. To their union was born Judy Maria Metcalf on May 8, 1961 and Hollis R. Metcalf, Jr. (Brother), on September 1, 1962. After several retail jobs, she began working for the Federal Government where she rose through the ranks to ultimately become a Supervisor in the Main Post Office of the United States Postal Service, in Washington, DC. After a notable 40 year career, she retired and purchased a condo in the lovely Howard County community of Columbia, Maryland. Unfortunately, her life was not without its share of loss. Hollis Sr. died in 1984. She then endured what no mother should have to experience, the loss of a child, with the death of her daughter in 1991 from an aggressive form of leukemia. At the age of 55, she assumed responsibility for raising Judy’s beautiful 9 year old daughter, Crystina. She also survived the loss of her parents and six siblings. During the last three years of her life, her health was compromised. That time, though difficult, rallied the support of her family. The sisters visited whenever possible and called at least weekly. Celestine called almost daily until her death earlier this year. By their kind words and the constant care and concern of her son Hollis, she and her caregivers knew how much she was loved. While she exited this world on April 19, 2011 at 74, she will continue to live in the hearts and memories of her son and daughter-in-law Hollis and Victoria Metcalf; sisters Cornelia Hardy and Lola Green Sykes of North Carolina and Sadie Risby of Fort Washington, MD; granddaughters Crystina Metcalf of Columbia, MD and Zenesha (Zei) Metcalf, Tashara (Teri) Metcalf and Chantelle Thomas of Washington, DC; eight great grandchildren; and many nieces, nephews, friends, and other relatives. They all will rejoice in the knowledge that to be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord and will find comfort that she will be laid to rest beside her beloved daughter Judy. Family and friends are invited to Shirley's Life Celebration on Friday, April 29 from 10:00am until service time at 11:00am a George P. Kalas Funeral Home, 6160 Oxon Hill Rd. Oxon Hill, MD. Interment Washington National Cemetery