Published On Aug 14, 2020
Haywood Nelson, Ernest Thomas and Shirley Hemphill reunite on the Jenny Jones Show. Taped 2 years before Shirley's death in 1999. The full show link is • JENNY JONES SHOW - 1970's Reunion which also has William Christopher of MASH, Richard Kline of Three's Company and Gene Rayburn of Match Game. At this point Shirley was using a walker but did not want her fans to see her using one on the Jenny Jones. Her diabetes was getting progressively worse and she was not treating it.
Shirley Hemphill - Born July 1, 1947 in Asheville, North Carolina, USA...Died December 10, 1999 in West Covina, Los Angeles, California, USA (kidney failure). When she relocated to Los Angeles in 1973, she split her time between a variety of waitress jobs and polishing her act at comedy clubs. After sending a tape cassette of her funniest, most clever material to Flip Wilson, she received the encouragement and motivation to pursue her dream of becoming a comedy performer. Won an athletic scholarship to Morristown College, graduating with an AA (Physical Education), in 1967.