Shirley Lockery, assistant professor emerita of social work, passed away on August, 5, 2026, at the age of 90, one week before her 91st birthday.
Lockery joined the U-M faculty in 1990 as an assistant professor, was promoted to associate professor in 1998, and retired in 2003 as associate professor emerita. Before coming to Michigan, she was a faculty member at San Diego State University from 1983 to 1990.
Her path to academia reflected extraordinary determination. Lockery grew up in Orange, New Jersey, and Harlem, New York, and overcame significant disadvantage. She served in the military and became a nurse, later advancing her nursing education, earning an associate's degree, a bachelor’s degree, a master’s degree in public administration, a master’s degree in social work and a PhD in social work.
As a social gerontologist, Lockery devoted her research and teaching to health and aging, particularly the experiences of older adults from racial and ethnic minority groups. Her work addressed ethnogerontology, aging policy and services, health promotion and prevention, functional status, family support and retirement. She used the nationally representative Health and Retirement Study, including its oversamples of African American and Hispanic participants, to deepen understanding of health and well-being among older adults.
Lockery’s contributions were recognized through an award of appreciation for her outstanding leadership in the National Institutes on Minority Aging. She was a fellow of the Gerontological Society of America and a member of the Academy of Certified Social Workers.
Colleagues and friends remember Lockery not only for her scholarship and professional accomplishments, but also for her warmth and engaging personality. Outgoing and approachable, she spoke with everyone and took the time to get to know those around her, while remaining private about her personal life.
The School of Social Work remembers Shirley Lockery with gratitude for her scholarship, commitment to underserved older adults, resilience and generous engagement with people from all walks of life. Her impact endures in the fields of social work and gerontology, in the students and colleagues she influenced, and in the many lives she touched through simple acts of connection and care.