Shelly Denise Williams was born in Baltimore, Maryland on February 1, 1968 to Grady and Frances Wilkins. She was their only child.

She graduated from Paul Laurence Dunbar Senior High School with a certification in nursing in 1986. She then attended Towson University. Shelly worked at several nursing facilities until she started at Johns Hopkins Hospital. She received her certification certificates as a paramedic and an EMT. At the time of her passing, she worked as a tech in the neuroscience critical care unit.

Shelly loved the Lord and gave her life to Christ at an early age. She attended New Psalmist Baptist Church, where she was baptized. She was a member of Greater Gethsemane Missionary Baptist Church of Baltimore, Maryland.

Shelly loved helping people, music, singing, swimming, and alone time at parks. She enjoyed spending time with her family and friends but mostly Shelly loved, loved, loved to travel.

She leaves to mourn: her father and mother, Grady and Frances Wilkins; grandmother, Susie Wilkins; aunts, Paula, Naomi, Faye, Cheryl, Linda, and Myra; uncles, Henry, Tony and Wayne Senior. Shelly had a special relationship with Mrs. Helen Jones and family and dear friends, Rachel Chapman, and Vonnie Worsley.