Mary Sue Shaw

Mrs. Mary Sue Shaw passed away Friday, August 2, 2024, at Regency of Lansing West in Delta Township, Michigan. She and her family recently celebrated her 94th birthday. She was born on Tuesday, April 22, 1930, to John Westley Cox, Sr. and Jim Alice Smith Cox in Ripley, Tennessee. She was the eldest child and the only surviving of eight children born to this union.

Mother Shaw married Howard Allen Shaw, Sr., on Sunday, July 16, 1950. To this union six children were born. Later in life she adopted her great niece, Natasha Bullock Shaw at an early age. Mother Shaw, her husband, and two young children, along with her parents and family relocated to Lansing, Michigan in search of a better life. Residing on the east side of Lansing until they moved to the west side of town.

She was a faithful, diligent member of the churches she joined during her life span. Beginning with Paradise Baptist Church and Galilee Missionary Baptist Church under the leadership of the late Pastor Charles Solomon Tolbert and Shiloah Missionary Baptist Church under the leaderships of the late Pastor Clemmie Hughes, Pastor Willie Mills, and the current Pastor, Reverend Kevin Brown.

She wore many hats, serving as church clerk, Sunday School teacher, choir member, and wherever needed. Never complaining, always available. 

Mother Shaw worked for the Capital City Laundry. She was a devoted childcare provider (one of the best we are told), excellent cook and seamstress, sewing for many friends,’

Mother Shaw leaves to cherish her memories, daughters and sons, Kathy (Charles) Gray, Bonnie (Kenneth) Richardson, Natasha Bullock Shaw, Howard Allen (Mary) Shaw, Jr., Princeton Tyrone of Colorado Springs, Colorado; seventeen grandchildren, many great and great-great grandchildren; and beloved goddaughter, Barbara Jean Robinson; many other relatives and friends.

 She was preceded in death by her daughter, Martha Jackson; son, Terry Shaw; two grandsons, Lyonel Brown “Lonnie” and Frank Tyjuan Street; great granddaughter, Shontaye Allen Brown Caulk; her parents; four sisters, Sadie Mae Bullock, Udora Cox, Cora Crutcher, and Joyce Diane Pettigrew; three brothers, John Westley Cox, Jr., Sydney Louis Cox, and James Franklin Cox.