Shirley Fincannon,
A Hero In Our Midst

“Big Sister” Shirley Fincannon and her “Little Sister” Dwanna, who is 12 years old, is eagerly counting the days until their big celebration. December 12 marks their fifth anniversary of being “sisters,” and they can’t wait to dress up and go out for a fancy dinner. In their five years together, Dwanna has become quite a cook and appreciates good food, so this Nashville duo is giving their destination some serious thought.

But, they are not serious often. Their time together is filled with laughter, adventures, and sharing. And both describe their adventures as “lots of fun.” Seeing a smile on Dwanna’s face gives Shirley great pleasure.

She knows how hard it has been for this bright and loving child to deal with the tremendous losses in her life-- first with the death of her mother when she was four, and then five years ago, the loss of her father. “Mrs. Donnell, Dwanna’s grandmother, has done a wonderful job with Dwanna and her twin brother, but she was ‘Daddy’s girl’ and his death was devastating for her,” explains Shirley.

It was at this point that Mrs. Donnell, following the advice of Dwanna’s school, looked to Big Brothers Big Sisters to find a mentor to provide Dwanna with extra support and help with her schoolwork. The timing couldn’t have been better for Shirley. A retired high school teacher, this lively woman found herself missing the classroom and her daily interaction with children and had recently tutored a child, who was a friend’s “Little Brother.” “I really liked working with Christopher, my friend’s “Little”, and decided to apply for my own ‘Little’,” she says.

Shirley and Dwanna hit if off immediately. Shirley couldn’t wait to share fun-filled experiences and her own love of learning and reading with Dwanna. “I am a sneaky teacher,” Shirley explains. “We have started a game in the car where we keep a notebook so that Dwanna can write down the states of license plates we pass. We are trying to get all 50, but we’re still missing Hawaii.” She adds playfully, “Maybe that will have to be a road trip!”

Shirley is also an avid card-sender and strongly believes in showing others that you care through cards and notes. “I send Dwanna little cards that say ‘way to go’ or ‘keep up the good work,’ all the time,” says Shirley. “I just think that cards have a way of brightening your day.”

Cooking has been another avenue for trying new things and having great conversations. Buying groceries, measuring ingredients and reading recipes have bolstered Dwanna’s math and reading skills. And their cooking escapades reap wonderful and tasty results. “My Little Sister is pretty good,” boasts Shirley. “She is not scared to try any recipe and made a complicated Spanish dish to bring into her class for a South American feast. Her classmates were very impressed.”

Dwanna has learned many things from Shirley. But, most importantly, she has gained a life-long friend. “She is somebody I can talk to about whatever I want to talk about.”

Not surprisingly, Dwanna wants to be a teacher when she grows up. As Shirley sees it, “She will be the best teacher or whatever she wants to be in life. Dwanna is an exceptional young person.”

That can be said for her “Big Sister,” as well.