On Saturday, January 28 2006 a Black Tie Affair in recognition of Shirley McClerklin Motley was held at the Eau Claire Print Building in Columbia, S.C. The event was a surprise event given in her honor in recognition for accomplishments too numerous to list in their totality, but to name a few,

Shirley graduated Magna Cum Laude from Benedict College with a B.S. in Social Work and a Certification in Child Protective Services. She was the recipient of the Minority Biological Access Research Careers Scholarship, Who's Who Among American University and College Students, the Alpha Chi National Honor Society, and the Alpha Kappa Mu National Honor Society. Upon completion of her Undergraduate studies, Shirley attended the Advanced Standing Program as a University of South Carolina Minority Fellow, where she received her Masters in Social Work. She is currently a Doctoral Candidate in the College of Social Work wih a cognate in Criminal Justice.

Shirley is currently an Associate Professor of Social Work at Coker College where she serves on the Curriculum Committee, Faculty Advisor to AA Sisterhood, and Co-Director of AA Studies. She is also and Adjunct Professor at the W.L. Bonner College where she serves as Co-Chair of the Curriculum Committee. In her "spare time" Shirley lectures on a local and national basis and has taught Understanding European Welfare Policy in London, England. 

During Coker College's 2008 graduation ceremony, Shirley was named Master Professor by the graduating body.  This is the highest honor a professor can receive.  In addition, Shirley was appointed Director of Coker's Social Work Program.   She has also been given the assignment to establish a Spanish Infusion Program for Social work Majors at Universitad Instituto Chac Mool in Mexico. She has made one trip to Mexico, and next May she will return for three weeks where she will teach a May interim course at the institute and where she and Coker students will take the first Spanish Immersion Course.  Last year Shirley was the Keynote Speaker at the South Carolina Drug School, and this year she was presenter at the S.C. National Association of Social Workers in March and the S.C. Youth Council in May, 2008.