Sheila Anne West

It is with deep sadness that we announce the passing of Sheila Anne West, aged 73, on January 5, 2025, following complications from a stroke after surgery. A beloved sister, aunt, friend, and neighbor, Sheila touched countless lives with her kindness, wisdom, and vibrant spirit.
Born on August 5, 1951, in Baltimore, Maryland, Sheila spent her life dedicated to helping others. She trained as a child and adolescent therapist at the Walter P. Carter Center in Baltimore. As her practice grew, she treated adults and geriatric patients. Sheila was committed to pro bono work and to helping those who needed mental health services but could not afford them. She made home visits to clients who were afraid or unable to leave the house because of their limitations. As a devoted social worker, she worked tirelessly to support individuals and families, leaving a legacy of compassion and resilience.
While pursuing her studies at the University of Maryland, Sheila worked in the now closed state segregated mental asylum in Crownsville. For much of its 90 years, Crownsville was the only mental institution in Maryland that treated Black people. Early in her career, she also worked at the psychiatric hospital formerly known as Spring Grove State Hospital. Thereafter, she was employed by the Calvert County Health Department where she developed the Child and Adolescent Program in the 1980's. She served patients in the Anne Arundel County Mental Health Agency that included the local detention facility. Sheila collaborated extensively with clients in outpatient mental health, residential treatment, and group homes.
Beyond her professional achievements, Sheila had a deep connection to the universe, finding joy and meaning through her love of metaphysics, astrology, and spirituality. Her ability to read the stars and offer guidance was cherished by many who sought her insights.
Her family will always remember Sheila as a determined individual, someone who put tremendous energy into finding her own way. But finding the world through friends and travel was central to her search. Sheila was known for her ability to form deep connections wherever she went. Her warmth and openness earned her friendships across the country.
Sheila is survived by her beloved sister, Nancy West, of Baltimore, dear brothers, Stephen West and his wife, Lois Jean, of Baltimore, Michael West of Portland, Maine, and cherished nephew, Maxim Hunter West Sharbaugh, of Baltimore, who will forever carry her spirit in their hearts.
A funeral mass and celebration of Sheila's life will be held at St. Ignatius Church, an historic Catholic church in Baltimore, Maryland, on Saturday, March 1, 2025, at 10:30 a.m. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made in her memory to the National Alliance on Mental Health or a charity related to mental health, astrology, or spirituality, causes close to her heart.