Mrs. Mercer received her education in Jackson at Merry High School and Lane College in Jackson, Tennessee. Her graduate work was done at the University of Memphis and Austin Peay University. 

While studying at Lane College, she and three of her close friends became known as The Four Freshman of Lane College who in 1960 already started their charge to fight for Civil Rights and start to be strong Community Activists. Mrs. Mercer’s favorite ploy was to drink from “White Only” Fountains.” Her determination and drive to defy the Jim Crow laws was the stepping stone to the Community Activist she is today. Her fight for equal rights and the safety of all is the foundation of her life and it continued to show through the years. 

After graduating from Lane College, she became a school teacher in Missouri. Later, after moving back to Tennessee, she taught school in Hardeman County for 24 years.

As a teacher, Shirlene Mercer served in many capacities of the teaching profession. She was the President of the Hardeman County Teacher’s Association. She also served as a member of the Minority Affair Council and as the 7th District Representative of the Tennessee T-Pace Council representing 17 West Tennessee Counties of the Tennessee Education Association.  

 In 1989, Mrs. Mercer became Director of the District Services for Congressman John Tanner. Shirlene Mercer is very active in her community. She is the Past Chairperson and first Woman Chairman of the Board of West Tennessee Healthcare, Past Board Chair of the Boys & Girls Club of Jackson, Past Board Member of the YMCA, Past Chairperson of the Board of the Jackson Area Council on Drugs and Alcohol, Past Vice Chair of the Jackson Area Chamber of Commerce, a member of the Tennessee Hospital Association, a member of The Tennessee Governance Board and the American Hospital Association’s Metropolitan Board, a Member of West Star, a Leadership Program of the University of Tennessee at Martin, and the Citizens Police Academy.  

Shirlene is Co-Chairperson of the Jackson Leadership Council which she created, organized, and participated in the weekly anti-crime marches. Since becoming a part of the Jackson Leadership Council, she has dedicated her time and energy to the work of crime reduction. Mercer has been featured in USA Today, and the “Highway 5” television special by WMC-TV Memphis. She and Chief of Police Richard Staples were guest on the nationally syndicated television show, “Rolanda Show” in New York City. 

Mercer has also served as a consultant to the City of Pittsburgh Pennsylvania’s Police Department, The National Association of African American Hospital Executives in Philadelphia. Mercer was also a special guest of the Attorney General’s conference on Community Orientated Policing in Little Rock, Arkansas.

Each Friday, Mercer led a band of interested children and adults march into the streets of Jackson bearing their interest in fighting crime and violence at its most grass roots level; that being the community. The marches have been attended by many notables, including: Congressman John Tanner, Vice President Al Gore, Tennessee Governor Don Sundquist, Tennessee Senator Bill Frist, Former NAACP Director Benjamin Hooks, Congressman Harold Ford, Jr., and Nashville Mayor and Governor Phil Bredesen 

Mercer has received Special Recognition from two Governors for services rendered to the State of Tennessee. Appointed by Governor Lamar Alexander to be representative to the Kettering Research Foundation’s study on Education and the Community. Governor Ned McWherter Task Force on Housing. Shirlene Mercer has served on every committee for the Boys & Girls Club from Program Committee to Board Chair over the past 15 years. Shirlene has been a tireless fundraiser for the Boys & Girls Club, a promoter for the Club, a steward for the community and fan advocate for all the children to get a great their start to a great future at the Boys & Girls Club.