Supt. Birdies Shields Sr.

SHIELDS, Supt. Birdies, Sr. - Age 86, passed away Sunday, December 9, 2018 at his residence. Family hour 11:00 AM, Monday December 17, 2018 at Greater Friendship Azusa Church of God In Christ, G-5165 Detroit St, with funeral service commencing at 12:00 PM, Bishop John Henry Sheard, officiating. Entombment Flint Memorial Park Cemetery, G-9506 N. Dort Highway. Friends and pallbearers will assemble at the Church 11:00 AM Monday. Supt. Shields will lie in state in the Chapel of Lawrence E. Moon Funeral Home, 906 W. Flint Park Blvd., and may be viewed from 10:00 AM-6:00 PM with family present to receive friends from 3:00 PM-6:00 PM Sunday. Superintendent Birdies Shields, Sr. was born April 30, 1932 in Rison, Arkansas to the union of George Shields, Sr. and Essie Brewer. Superintendent Birdies Shields, Sr. was the third of 10 children. At the tender age of 12, he decided to enter the workforce to assist his father in providing for their large family. And although his educational endeavors were limited, his work ethic surpassed that of many others, allowing him to be successful. As an entrepreneurial legend, his ventures included property investments, foster (adult) care, being a restaurateur, and homeowner in addition to many other ventures that he shared with his wife, Missionary Naomi J. Shields. Superintendent Shields also dedicated 33 years of his life working for General Motors before leaving the workforce permanently. After marrying the love of his life, he relocated to Flint, Michigan in 1955 and began his true labor of love in the Gospel Ministry under the leadership of Bishop Fred Lewis, attending Hamilton Avenue Church Of God In Christ. After serving faithfully for many years under Bishop Lewis, he answered the call as Pastor. In 1968, beginning with a handful of members including the James Brown, Dorothy Miller, Hosea Thompson and Cooper families, he founded Friendship Chapel Church Of God In Christ at 352 E. Laredo St. in Flint, Michigan. After this humble beginning God blessed him to move to a larger building, 918 E. Spencer, but God didn’t stop there. The membership grew and the Lord blessed him to build his beautiful current edifice at G-5165 Detroit St. Superintendent Shields was a great supporter of the Church in God in Christ under the guidance of John Seth Bailey, Prelate of Southwestern Michigan Jurisdiction until 1984. In 1985, Southwestern Michigan was divided into four jurisdictions, his support continued under the guidance of Bishop Willie Leroy Harris and the current leader of Michigan Southwest First Jurisdiction, Bishop John Henry Sheard, Presiding Prelate. Superintendent Birdies Shields, Sr. leaves to cherish his loving memory: 2 daughters, Pamela (Elder Milton Sr.) Gibson of Grand Blanc, MI and Iva (Elder Jerry) Williams of Flint; 3 sons, Supt. Birdis J. (Cheryl) Shields of Mt. Morris, MI, Ronnie (Vanessa) Shields and Cedric Shields, all of Flint; 3 sisters, Bobbie Jefferson of Coram, NY, Bessie (Peter) Alston of Deptford, NJ and Arzella (John) Thrower of Little Rock, AR; brothers, Joshua (Martha) Shields of Pine Bluff, AR and special brother, Havis B. (Roxie) Shields of Rison, AR; 21 grandchildren; 20 great-grandchildren; a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, other relatives and friends with special consideration to Monique Stevenson. Superintendent Shields was preceded in death by his phenomenal and dedicated wife of 64 years, Missionary Naomi Jean Shields; 2 daughters, Shandelyn Faye Shields and Phyllis Renita Moore; mother, Essie Brewer; father, George Shields, Sr.; brothers, George Shields Jr., Wallace Shields and John Henry Shields “QT”; and sister, Cloutean Shields-Danzy. The family would like to express special thanks to Darnell V. Hunter, Jarrae Gibson, Elder Jerry Williams Jr., Elder Milton Gibson, Sr., Missionary J. Johnson, McLaren Hospice Care and Dr. Jagdish Bhagat.

Supt. Birdies Shields Sr.

April 30, 1932 - December 9, 2018