Bessie E. Shorter

?The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want?? Psalm 23

Our hearts were saddened when God in His infinite wisdom summoned our beloved one, Mrs. Bessie Estelle Crenshaw Shorter, affectionately known as ?Ms. Estelle? of 128 S. Sycamore Street, Petersburg, VA. Ms. Estelle made her conversion from her earthly life to eternal rest after completing 87 years of a wonderful life on Wednesday, March 6, 2013 at her residence.

Ms. Estelle was born on June 29, 1925 to the late Chavis and Bessie Crenshaw in Petersburg, VA. She united in marriage to the late George Shorter.

Mrs. Bessie E. Shorter confessed Christ at an early age and later became a member of Greater Faith Deliverance Temple, under the leadership of Bishop Dr. Robert Jones, Petersburg, VA, until her health declined. She was affectionately known as the ?Mother of the Church? by her church family.

Mrs. Bessie E. Shorter was a kind-hearted person with a loving, quiet demeanor and always had a smile for everyone. She loved reading the Holy Bible, and attending church services, visiting with her neighbors and family, going on shopping trips, cooking, watching television, decorating her home, and dress in ?stylish attire?.

She retired as a dedicated domestic worker. She was a dedicated and loving mother and homemaker. Her favorite scripture was Psalm 23.

Bessie E. Shorter was preceded in death by a loving husband, George Shorter; sisters, Roberta Lewis and Jeanette Jefferson; brothers, Calvin Beverly, James Beverly, and Junious Beverly; special friend, Frank Winbush; devoted cousins, Alfredia Story-Seymour and Alfred L. Story, Jr., Willie Jackson, Sr., James ?Snow? Jackson, Ernest Jackson, Johnny Jackson, Lucy B. Rose, Delores Parham, Rosina Jackson, Evelyn Casey, Alfred L. Story, Sr. and Emily M. Jackson.

Bessie E. Shorter leaves to cherish her loving and precious memories a very ?devoted? and ?loving? son, Reverend Curtis Crenshaw of Petersburg, VA; sisters, Mary ?Peaches? Lawrence of Richmond, VA, and Nancy White of Yale, VA; brothers, Herbert Crenshaw of Portsmouth, VA, Wilbert Beverly of Washington, DC; brother-in-law, Herbert Lewis of Petersburg, VA; nieces and nephews, Shelia Lewis, Anthony ?Big Moe? Moore, Ronnie White and Corbert Beverly all of Petersburg, VA; goddaughters, Linda Parham of Petersburg, VA, and Hope Brown of Waverly, VA; godson, Clarence Parham of Petersburg, VA; cousins, very devoted-Otelia S. Harrison (Linwood), Judy R. Blackwell, Gertrude Franklin-Carnegie (Roy), Benjamin Jackson (Lillian), Stafford M. Blackwell (Annette), Shenika Blackwell, William L. Story, Gregory Seymour, Jr. Temika Seymour, Soraya Seymour, Eboneé Seymour, and Deborah Howard, all of Petersburg, VA, Chaplain Sadie Williams (Chaplain W. Williams) of Bronx, NY, and B. Michelle McCray of Chapel Hill, NC, Celestine Taylor of Glen Allen, VA, Dr. Winifred Jackson-Francis (Gary) Clinton, MD, Major (Ret) Willie H. Jackson, Jr. (Mary) of Chesterfield, VA; special friends, Inez Barnes, Hilda Harrell, Earl Harrell, Alice Johnson, Deacon Edward Garrison, Margaret Garrison, Rev. Barbara Hayes and Cynthia Washington all of Petersburg, VA and a host of other relatives and friends.

A special heartfelt ?thank you? to a devoted caregiver, Lilly Winfield of Petersburg, VA.

A funeral service for Mrs. Bessie E. Shorter will be held 11:00 A.M., Monday, March 11, 2013, at Greater Faith Deliverance Temple, 507 Harrison Street, Petersburg, VA, Bishop Dr. Robert Jones, Pastor, Eulogist, Rev. Leroy Rhone and Elder Donald Charles, officiating . The interment to follow at Wilkerson Memorial Cemetery.

Family, friends, honorary and active pallbearers are asked to assemble at 10:30 A.M. at the church.

The family will receive friends at 128 S. Sycamore Street, Petersburg, VA may be contacted by calling her son, Rev. Curtis Crenshaw at (804) 733-6047.

Family members and friends are invited to pay final tribute to Mrs. Shorter at www.jmwilkersonsince1874.com.

Funeral arrangements entrusted to the staff of J.M. Wilkerson Funeral Establishment, Inc., 102 South Avenue, Petersburg, VA, (804) 732-8911, www.jmwilkersonsince1874.com.