Shirley Strauss

SHIRLEY STRAUSS, a Little Rock homemaker and long-time supporter of the Winthrop Rockefeller Cancer Research Center, died Friday, Jan. 31, 2014 of complications from cancer. While focusing on raising her children during the early years of her marriage, Mrs. Strauss also found time to help others. In the troubled times of the 1960's she became a founding member of the central Arkansas chapter of the Panel of American Women. In 1963 Mrs. Strauss joined the late Sara Murphy and Brownie Ledbetter and other Little Rock women to start a Panel chapter in Little Rock. The Panel was composed of women of different religious faiths and racial backgrounds who would speak about themselves before church groups and civic organizations to help ease the tensions of school desegregation in Arkansas. The Panel presentations allowed Arkansans to confront their fears and prejudices in order to learn about people of different races or religions in an informal and non-threatening way. Throughout her life, Mrs. Strauss often worked behind the scenes as a quiet advocate of the less privileged. After her youngest child was midway through high school, Mrs. Strauss converted a passion into a part-time business by beginning a twenty-year career as a personal shopper, helping women and men with their shopping needs. She specialized in helping women put together wardrobes and assisting men in finding the right gifts for birthdays, anniversaries and holidays. Operating under the "Something Special Shopping Service" name, she visited several stores each week in Little Rock to keep abreast of the latest fashion trends. One of her customers went on to become a U.S. Senator and the Secretary of State. Mrs. Strauss was a former board member of the Federation of Jewish Charities, now the Jewish Federation of Arkansas. She also taught a comparative religions Sunday school class at temple B'nai Israel for many years. In 2011 the Jewish Federation of Arkansas awarded Mrs. Strauss and her late husband, Sam, the Jane Mendel Tikkun Olam lifetime of service award. In her later years Mrs. Strauss volunteered at the Dixon Patient Waiting Room at the Winthrop Rockefeller Cancer Institute at UAMS. A long-time patient herself, Mrs. Strauss easily extended great empathy. Mrs. Strauss was a native of Waco, Texas: the daughter of the late Isidore and Helen Fred. After graduating valedictorian from Waco High School she attended Sophie Newcomb College at Tulane University and graduated with a degree in Early Childhood Education. At Tulane she met her future husband, Sam, whom she married in 1953. Mr. Strauss died in 2011. Mrs. Strauss is survived by her three children, Susan and Trip of Little Rock and Steve of Washington, D.C.; a brother, Herbert Fred of Houston; and a granddaughter, Steele, who attends college in Charleston, S.C. The family extends its heartfelt gratitude to UAMS oncologist, Dr. Laura Hutchins, whose tireless work extended our mother's time with us. We also want to thank caregiver Robert Brikha. Funeral services will be held at Congregation B'nai Israel in Little Rock on Monday, Feb. 3, at 11 a.m. with Rabbi Barry Block officiating. Interment will follow in the B'nai Israel section of Oakland Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that contributions be made to the Winthrop Rockefeller Cancer Research Center or the charity of your choice. Arrangements are by Griffin Leggett Healey & Roth. Online guestbook: www.griffinleggetthealeyroth.com.