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Regular Session, 2011 ENROLLED
SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 86
BY SENATOR PETERSON
A RESOLUTION
To express the sincere condolences of the Senate of the Legislature of Louisiana upon the
death of Allie Mae "Shirley" Young Singleton.
WHEREAS, it is with sadness that the Senate of the Legislature of Louisiana has
learned of the passing of Allie Mae "Shirley" Young Singleton, age seventy-six, on May 31,
2011; and
WHEREAS, Allie Mae Young, a native of Hazlehurst, Mississippi, graduated from
Parish High School; met her future husband, Jim Singleton, during his summer visit to his
family's Mississippi farm, about fifteen miles outside of Hazlehurst; and the young couple
married and moved to New Orleans in the 1950s; and
WHEREAS, she attended Katie's Beauty and Barber School and also served an
internship with Ida Beal's Beauty Salon before opening her own shop in the basement of the
family home on General Taylor Street; and
WHEREAS, her friends have stated that Shirley was a one-woman enterprise who
relied on word-of-mouth advertising that helped her build a stable of loyal customers in the
early 1960s; and
WHEREAS, she owned and operated the Parisian Beauty Den in Broadmoor for
about twenty-five years before rheumatoid arthritis forced her to close the business in the
mid-1980s; and
WHEREAS, while Shirley Singleton was a fervent supporter of her husband's
political career, she maintained a low public profile during his three decades of government
service, which included a twenty-four year tenure on the New Orleans City Council and an
unsuccessful bid for mayor in 2002; and
WHEREAS, though Shirley Singleton preferred to stay in the background during
appearances at fundraising and community events, her husband of fifty-six years said she
didn't hold her tongue when he was hit with criticism; and SR NO. 86 ENROLLED
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WHEREAS, Allie Mae "Shirley" Singleton was a member of St. Mark Missionary
Baptist Church for more than fifty-five years and served on the church's Thanksgiving
Committee; and
WHEREAS, she is survived by her husband; a son, James M. Singleton Jr.; a
daughter, Jacquelin P. Singleton; two sisters, Vera Jean Young James and Rosie Louise
Young James; and two grandchildren; and
WHEREAS, Allie Mae "Shirley" Singleton, according to those who knew her, never
was one who sought the spotlight but was more interested in being a great mother and a
person who would speak her mind if she had something to say; and
WHEREAS, while her death leaves a tremendous void with her family and friends
and in her community, her memory shall forever remain alive in their minds and hearts.
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Senate of the Legislature of Louisiana
does hereby express sincere and heartfelt condolences upon the death of Allie Mae "Shirley"
Young Singleton.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this Resolution be transmitted to the
family of Allie Mae "Shirley" Singleton.
PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE