Louisville honors Shirley Mae Beard with proclamation, street sign near café

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) — Saturday is Shirley Mae Beard Day, a proclamation presented to her daughter, Theresa Simpson.

More than two dozen community members came out. Shirley Mae Beard was the owner and face of Shirley Mae's Café on South Clay Street.

Former Mayor Greg Fischer came to speak, along with current Mayor Craig Greenberg and several council members. Her children, along with her granddaughter, were also present.

“This was a woman who was alive 120% of the time," Fischer said.

Beard died Jan. 11 at the age of 84. She was a cherished figure in Louisville’s soul food scene for decades. Her restaurant became a cornerstone of the Smoketown neighborhood and a gathering place for community and culture.

“That’s what mom was all about," Simpson said. "Bringing people together."

Beard had her hands full running the restaurant and a juke joint, but still found time to launch "Salute to Black Jockeys, Inc." — an annual event to celebrate the history of Black jockeys in the Kentucky Derby. She even drained her retirement funds to keep the celebration free for the entire community.

A street sign was placed at the corner of South Clay and Lampton streets, in front of Shirley Mae's Café.

“We’re gonna do it like momma would’ve wanted it done," Simpson said.

Simpson said her mother is surely looking down, grateful and proud.

“As a representative of the family, we are all deeply hurt, and we will never be the same without her," Simpson said.

Metro Councilwoman Tammy Hawkins, D-1, said she grew up nearby and visited the café almost every Sunday.

“Shirley Mae was like a mother, auntie, sister," Hawkins said. "She served in a lot of different capacities to a lot of people."

“Today is definitely well deserved," she added.