Shelba Jean Black was genuine in everything she did. She loved her family and friends completely; and she loved and served her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ faithfully.
She passed from this life on May 11, 2024, at the age of 88.
Shelba was born on August 4, 1935, in the Trinity Chapel Community in northeast Freestone County to Ernest and Emma “Sweetie” Key. Her daddy proudly claimed that “she weighed 3 lbs. – blanket and all – on the cotton scales.”
She graduated from Fairfield High School in 1954 and was selected as Most Beautiful that year. Being a talented artist, Shelba provided the artwork for the 1952 and 1953 school yearbooks.
Shelba married H. Glendale Black on November 3, 1957, and, after living briefly in Houston, they returned to Fairfield where they made their home and raised their two sons H. Glendale Jr. “Bud” Black and Stephen Gene “Stevie Gene” Black.
She spent most of her working years doing title work for Mr. Joe Wheeler at the Fairfield Abstract Company. In 1973, she went to work for Mr. Hugh Reed as a legal secretary where she worked for nearly 50 years.
Shelba loved history – especially Freestone County History. She left behind many notes and stories about the things she had heard and seen during her life. Many of her heirlooms were donated to the Freestone County Museum – with a note that told what the item was and who it belonged to.
Shelba was a devoted servant to the Lord, being saved at the age of 14 and baptized in a stock tank near the Missionary Baptist Church in Butler. When she was 18, she taught an elderly ladies Sunday School Class at the Antioch Baptist Church in the Turlington Community east of Fairfield. In 1962, she joined Calvary Baptist Church in Fairfield where she continued teaching children for over 60 years. She said “It has been my joy to teach children about Jesus – three generations since my first students in 1962. What a joy to see them saved and serve the Lord in our church. God has blessed Glendale and me and our family all these years. He promised never to leave us, and HE NEVER HAS!”
Shelba is survived by her sons Bud (Kelly), Steve (Melinda); six grandchildren called her “Brownie Granny” because she baked brownies for them – Julie (Casey) Crocker, Lauren Black, Brett Walker (Jenn), Katy Conner, Ben Black (Brianne), and Cory Black; five great-grandchildren called her “Cracker Granny” because she always gave them crackers for snacks – Cameron Crocker, Hadley Walker, Hannah Walker, Killian Conner, and Aubri Grace Black; sisters-in-law Mozelle Cherry, Doris Casey (Roy Jr.) and Kay Key; numerous nephews, nieces, cousins, and friends.
Awaiting her entrance into Heaven were her husband, H. Glendale Black, her mother and father Ernest Jackson and Emma “Sweetie” Key, brothers Kenneth “Bo” Key, and Maxie “Little Boy,” Key and many other family members and friends she held dear.
Visitation with the family was held Tuesday evening, May 14, in the chapel of the Griffin-Roughton Funeral Home in Fairfield.
Funeral services will be held on Wednesday, May 15, at 3:00 p.m. in the funeral home chapel, followed by burial at the Antioch Cemetery east of Fairfield.
An online guest book is available at www.griffin-roughton.com.
Arrangements By Griffin-Roughton Funeral Home
