Mrs. Mary J. Shelby

SHELBY, Mrs. Mary J. - Age 83, passed away Sunday, October 15, 2023, at her residence. Family hour 11:00 AM Saturday, October 21, 2023, at Morningstar Missionary Baptist Church, 4075 E. Atherton Rd., with funeral service commencing at 12:00 PM Pastor Keith Bigelow, officiating. Interment, Gracelawn Cemetery, 5710 N. Saginaw St. Friends and pallbearers will assemble at the church 11:00 AM Saturday. Mrs. Shelby will lie in state in the Chapel of Lawrence E. Moon Funeral Home, 906 W. Flint Park Blvd., and may be viewed from 12:00 PM - 6:00 PM Friday. Mrs. Mary Jenetta Shelby was born April 20, 1940 in Lake, Mississippi, the daughter of Mr. & Mrs. Jimmie and Bennie Mae Jones. Mary was the fourth of eleven children. As the oldest daughter, she was like a mother to her younger siblings when their parents weren’t present. They saw her as “The Boss”. Mary attended and graduated from Sherman High School in Forest, MS in 1960. She moved to Flint, Michigan in the early 60’s and accepted employment with Fisher Body I, a division of General Motors until retirement. She became a faithful member of Morning Star Missionary Baptist Church under the leadership of the late Rev. Henry Robinson where she served on various ministries including the Nurses Guild, Hospitality Committee and sang with the Senior and combined choirs as a Tenor. Mary met the loved of her life, Mr. Wesley Shelby and was married for over 30 years. Mrs. Shelby fulfilled her vows of “in sickness and in health” and “until death do us part” to her husband, until his transition in 2001. From this union two sons were birthed, Javier Cepeda and Ralston Trevor. Even though Mary only had sons, she loved all her nieces as though they were her daughters. Mary LOVED to cook for her family and friends. When she cooked she fed the multitude. She loved to dress and wear fancy hats, spending time with and talking on the phone with family and friends all day, sewing, knitting, traveling to Mississippi, and helping others. She enjoyed volunteering at McLaren-Flint, GCCARD, various food pantries and ensured her grandchildren volunteered as well. Mary delighted in shopping for her grandchildren at Tots and Lots and Laurie’s and Timothy’s. She was a part of the Red Hat Society, Eastern Star, and Boy Scouts of America Leader. Around 2008, she joined Agape Faith Fellowship in Birch Run, MI under the leadership of Dr. Joseph Rodriquez Sr. and was a faithful member. Due to the weekly drive becoming a lot for her, she rejoined Morning Star Missionary Baptist Church under the leadership of Pastor Keith Bigelow and remained a member until God called her home. Mrs. Mary Jenetta Shelby leaves to cherish her memory: 4 sons, Wesley Xavier Sr. of Cincinnati, OH, Joseph Quintin (Kimberly) of Fenton, MI, Javier Cepeda (Veronica) of Lewisville, TX and Ralston Trevor Sr. (Kara) of Flint; grandchildren, Marika (Mario) Moore, Antoine Shelby, Whitney (Burt) Beam, LaTonya Shelby, Chrystina Shelby, all of Michigan, Janda Hill of Georgia, Ralston Shelby Jr., Wesley Shelby Jr, both of Michigan, Za’Taia Shelby of Florida, Aliyah Shelby of Texas, Ryelan and Samara Shelby, both of Michigan; 3 sisters, Dorothy Peterson of Lake, MS, Shirley (Thomas) Alsobrook of Mt. Gilead, NC and Glennie Rowland of Columbus, GA; 2 brothers, Charles Albert Jones and Willie Earl (Loretta) Jones of Jackson, MS; aunt, Hilton Jones Gordon; 2 uncles, Joe Louis Jones and Prentiss (Fannie) Norris, all of Michigan; sister-in-law, Dessie M. McGhee; bonus sons, David Henderson, Tracey Elam and Anthony Fulgham; god-son, Jon DePaul Burns; god-daughter, Catryna Brown; a host of nieces, nephews other relatives and friends including special friends, Teola Scott and best friend since childhood, Emmaneil Hamilton. Mrs. Shelby was preceded in death by her husband, Wesley Shelby; parents, Jimmie and Bennie Jones; great-grandbaby, Makais Lee Shelby-Adams; mother-in-law, Bessie L. Norris; brothers, Carl Jones, John Calvin Jones, James Howard Jones, Bobby Glenn Jones Sr. and Jimmie Lee Jones; sisters-in-law, Mary Giles, Villia Mae Jones, Flora Jones and Ruby Jones; special friend, Emma Belt; and “play mother”, Lillie Fields. The family would like to express special thanks to Dr. Henry P. Mendoza and staff, Flint Hospice Care especially Dawn, Lawrence E. Moon Funeral Home and staff, Pastor Keith J. Bigelow and the Morning Star Missionary Baptist Church family, the Miller family, caregivers, Ralston Shelby Sr., LaTonya Shelby, Antoine Shelby and Lurenda Williams-Shelby. Link to Live stream service: http://www.facebook.com/MSMBCBURTON48519?mibextid=LQQJ4d

Mrs. Mary J. Shelby

April 20, 1940 - October 15, 2023