Bio
Shirley Bennett (née Edwards) is a graduate of Greendale Community College and also the proprietor of the campus eatery "Shirley's Sandwiches". She enrolled not long after her divorce from her husband Andre who had left her and their children for a stripper named Mysti. Her goal at school was to take business courses, which would help her market her baked goods to the masses. During her time at Greendale she became close friends with her study group. In her sophomore year she reconciled with her husband Andre and had another child with him. In her third year at school Shirley remarried Andre and also went into business with her fellow study group member Pierce Hawthorne. After four years, she graduated with honors, earning a business degree. Not long afterwards, she made a few bad financial decisions which hurt her family and led to another separation from her husband. An unexpected reunion with her study group made her decide to re-enroll at Greendale to become a better business women. Shirley also joined the "Save Greendale Committee" to improve life on campus and successfully reopened her sandwich shop in the cafeteria. She is portrayed by actress Yvette Nicole Brown. |
Personality
“ | The word he's looking for is "sassy". He better pray he doesn't find it. | ” |
–Shirley, "Documentary Filmmaking: Redux" |
Shirley is a devout Baptist and is the most religious member of the study group whose surface good-natured personality belies some thinly-veiled rage issues ("Pilot"). While she is proud to be an African American woman and a mother, she tries not to be defined by just those characteristics. Her age is something she is very sensitive about, as she is one of the older study group members and often tries to prove to them that she is still relevant ("The Science of Illusion"). She becomes the "mother hen" of the group often offering unwanted advice or opinions to the other members ("Comparative Religion"). She admits to having a gossiping problem, one which has cost her past relationships by needlessly stirring the pot between her friends ("Social Psychology"). It's been suggested by the study group that she also has a baking problem and tries too hard to be liked by baking goods for everyone ("Remedial Chaos Theory"). She often struggles with tolerance for the other faiths of the non-Christian members of the study group ("Comparative Religion"). She has gone as far as trying to covertly baptize Annie (who is Jewish) at a pool party and suggested they baptize Abed (who is Muslim) while he was in a catatonic state ("Biology 101").
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Character history
Season One
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Season Two
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Season Three
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Season Four
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Season Five
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Season Six
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Relationships
In the study group
Jeff Winger (See main article: "Jeff and Shirley")
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Annie Edison
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Abed Nadir
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Britta Perry
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Pierce Hawthorne (See main article: "Shirley and Pierce")
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Troy Barnes
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Other notable relationships
Andre Bennett
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Shirley's children (See main article:"Shirley's children")
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Gary
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Notable appearances:
None, only mentioned in "Investigative Journalism" and "Pascal's Triangle Revisited"
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Class history
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Trivia
- Shirley is the third main character to leave the show. Actress Yvette Nicole Brown was allowed to drop out of Season Six to take care of her ailing father, only making guest appearences. Shirley has appeared in 99 episodes of "Community".
- Shirley's favorite movie is Doc Hollywood.
- Prior to her first year, Shirley had a drinking problem.
- In the Community College Chronicles, Shirley is played by Dioni Snyder.
- Shirley is excellent at Foosball as of Foosball and Nocturnal Vigilantism.
Videos
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