Shirley P. Thomas

Shirley P. Thomas began her grand journey in Philadelphia, PA on August 28, 1954, the fifth child of Viola Mae Vaughn.

After attending Philadelphia Public Schools, Shirley didn’t follow the traditional path to obtaining an MBA from LaSalle University. Following a hiatus after high school, she attended Community College, then Temple University receiving a Bachelor of Arts in Language and Literature/Latin American Studies. Her love for learning continued throughout her life.

She was extremely proud of her many certifications in Human Resources, including the Certified Professional from the Society for Human Resources Management (SHRM). In addition, she was awarded certifications in Human Resources Management from Villanova and LaSalle University.
Shirley’s public service began in 1980 at the Lighthouse in the Kensington area of Philadelphia, where she worked her way through the ranks to become the Executive Director for 14 years. Her fervent commitment to mentoring the neighborhood youth led to her being spotlighted in a Philadelphia newspaper interview. She was featured as a “Beacon in the Community”. Shirley was a skilled communicator, capable of collaborating across organizational lines to build teams and to achieve shared vision. An energetic change agent, she led with a strong focus on collaboration to drive sustainable results and growth. Shirley also found great joy in her work on the Board of Directors of Girls Inc.

In 1994, Shirley found her forever work home with the Urban League of Philadelphia (CCIS Northwest). She served as the beloved Executive Director, until the closing of the office in 2019. She took this opportunity to create her own consulting company, Thomas & Associates, LLC, specializing in non-profit sector leadership, management operations, developing and implementing infrastructure systems, and human resource solutions.

This led to her joining the staff of the Arden Theater as an Organizational Development Consultant. Because of her love for the arts, this position brought her tremendous joy and optimism. Her taste in music was eclectic, ultimately leading to a deep love for opera-often attending live performances.
Shirley lived a life of purpose and service. She was committed to motivating and inspiring the marginalized, and believed that education was a pathway to success. To that end, she created the Shirley P. Thomas Scholarship Fund at the Philadelphia Community College. The scholarship provides funding to non-traditional students, who have delayed or interrupted their education.
Shirley was the consummate hostess, who loved to entertain her family and friends in her spacious, sumptuous apartment. Her meals were worthy of a prestigious Michelin star. She was fluent in Spanish and Portuguese, often reading books in Spanish and visiting Spain, whenever the opportunity presented itself.

Shirley is preceded in death by her brothers, Calvin Bland aka Jamal Abdul Wahab and Jerome W. Thomas. She is survived by her siblings Beatrice L Turnipseed (Eugene), Samuel D. Thomas (Cereta), and Tanya B. Vaughn-Patterson (Lawrence); devoted friends Stephanie Copes, Jakki Browner, and Yvonne Fletcher, and a host of loving family and friends.

“Death is not extinguishing the light; it is only putting out the lamp, because the dawn has come.”
Rabindranath Tagore

In lieu of flowers, donations should be made to:
Lyvette Jones MBA
Development Officer
Institutional Advancement
Community College of Philadelphia
1700 Spring Garden St. Annex7
Philadelphia, PA 19130