Mary Elaine Newman Shaw

Mary transitioned from this life into her eternal rest on Sunday, December 27, 2020 at the age of 78.  I, Kimberly (Charles) Douglas was the only child of mom. She was the youngest daughter of Ida McBride Newman and Ruben Newman and foster daughter of Lottie and Thomas Augustus, all of whom preceded her in death, along with her dear brothers, Ollie, Floyd, Reuben, Leroy and lovely sisters Louise Hawkins, Rosalie Thompson and Ernestine Burrage. She leaves a cherished sister Geraldine McDaniel, a brother Lloyd Newman, foster sisters Mary and Carol Allen.

Mom was born in Kansas City, KS on May 5, 1942, where she attended school through college, graduating from the University of Kansas Missouri in 1960. Mom lived in Kansas City working as a Social Worker until 1970 when we moved to Milwaukee. She worked as a Social Worker for both the state and ultimately for St. Luke’s hospital for over 30 years.  Mom was always willing to help others and when you did not want to help yourself, she pushed you anyway.  She was very dedicated in her every endeavor.  Mom made great strides at St. Luke’s hospital when doctors did not want to work with an African American female, but she did not let that stop her.  She worked hard and persevered because of her one joy in life, me.  She was successful in gaining the utmost respect of her peers and others at St. Luke’s who never forgot her, even when she came back for visits, or even as a patient.

Mom was very active in the community and raising a child by herself did not stop her from being instrumental in raising awareness of any issue of the day.  She was a devout Social Worker as a member of the Black Social workers organization in Milwaukee.  She was honored by several organizations for her passion for service and she was quite feisty, but served as a true servant leader.  Mom was an active member of two Chapters of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.  She was loved by many in both Epsilon Kappa Omega and a charter member of Upsilon Mu Omega.  She was a member of the Cream City Chapter of The Links, Incorporated and a member of the Alpha Pi chapter of Eta Phi Beta for several years. She chaired many events and always maintained active membership and made life long sisters and friends.

She was busy in all of them and loved to dress for all of their activities.  Mom was not going to sit around doing nothing, only what she wanted to do.

Although, mom did not like to drive in the dark or the highway, she was fiercely independent and did not want to rely on anyone for help. She worked for the Carter Child Development Center, and in her last years she was a substitute teacher for the Milwaukee Public School System.  She was sought out by several principals, but she had her favorite schools, Sherman and Congress Street.  She used to think that she could walk anywhere, well she did, but she loved to walk to Congress Street School and to Holy Redeemer, her church that she loved.  Mom retired from MPS but is still remembered and loved by many.  The kids loved “Ms. Shaw”; when they saw her they would run to her saying Ms. Shaw, Ms. Shaw, we miss you.  You would have thought that she was a rock star, well she was to the students.

Mom has so many good friends that it would be so wrong to call them all out and then I would forget some, but here goes, Josephine Hill and Vivian Mays, she fought with them all of the time but she loved them dearly. Florence Dukes and her family, Michelle Crockett and so many that have since passed away.  So many other Sorority sisters, Sorors Catherine Miles, Ira jean Henry, Debra Lewis and Dorothy Buckhanan Wilson, Her Kansas City friends and classmates.  She loved their grade school and high school reunions, attending every year that you could.

Mom had the presence of mind to send me to St. Agnes Catholic school and there I met one of our closest family friends, the Ingram’s, John and Kotelia Ingram, took us in as if we were their own.  We have remained close, Kim, Angel, Leondra, Alva, John-John, Millard and Stan and all of the nieces, and nephew. Ashley, Jordan, Kayla, McKenzie Miranda and Madison.  She loved you dearly, she fussed a lot but she loved all of you as I do.

Mom loved her great nephew Christopher Mays and he was there when she needed him.  He did not mind doing anything for mom, they were very close including Brooklyn and Chris Jr.  But, mom loved and fussed over all of her nieces, nephews and cousins, Vi, Jackie, Ellie, Jeanette, Lesa, Charles Ann, Darlene, Janice, Eugene, Ulysses, Kenny, Joyce, Brenda, Gwendolyn, Tony, Shardae, Trenita, Pateese, Tim, Valvilla, Clementine, Brenda King, Dwight, Betty “Little Bit” Owens, Sunny, The McBride Clan, Kelli, Danni, Marilyn, Berthena, Quinton, Bea, David Mays,  and close friends, Vivian Joyner, Janet, the Young family.  Late in life she grew to love Tiera Smith and Ms. Dorothy her caregivers whom she fought but missed every time they had to leave.

Mom was an active member of Holy Redeemer Institutional Church of God in Christ, Bishop Sedgwick Daniels. She was a member of the Allego women’s group.  She loved the Daniels family, especially Sister Hattie, who kept an eye out for mom.  Bishop never said a word when mom would insist that she see him when she wanted to see him; he was very patient.

Mom loved to shop and we loved to shop together.  She always tried to keep up and always tried to buy me whatever she thought that I wanted.  She was the best mom that God could have shared with me and I am sure good friend, sister, and aunt to all. She always was big on keeping the family together.  She spent a lot of time locating her late mother’s burial site and she found it.  She had a dedication and placed a headstone at the location where she will be laid to rest.  She now is with her mom and dad with the Lord.

Mom was not a big flower person, but just keep all of your memories close, laugh and cry if necessary, but always know that mom cared about everyone that touched her life.

Many thanks to everyone who touched mom’s life and mine.  Words cannot express the gratitude and the huge debt that we owe you for helping my mom enjoy live and raise me.  Special thanks to the Holy Redeemer family who watched over mom. Words cannot express how thankful and grateful I am to all of those who helped me during this journey, Debra Jordan, Kathy Harris, Sister Tate, Sister Hall and Marjorie Towles.  Special love for her work friends, Annette, Janine, and so many more.  Thanks to the Sorority and Link sisters who were very patient and loving throughout this process especially Debra Lewis, Deborah Wallace and Jacquelyn Rice.

God has been good and continues to be good and I only thank Him for giving me to Mary Elaine Newman Shaw.