Gwendolyn Faye Shelby

Ms. Gwendolyn "Faye Faye" Shelby was born March 18, 1959 to Mr. William "Billy" Anderson and Mrs. Mary Lee Shelby-Beard. She was baptized at an early age at Main Street Missionary Baptist Church, under the leadership of Reverend Kenneth Haynes, Sr., where she served in the choir. Faye was a graduate of Biloxi Senior High, class of 1978, and attended Mary Holmes Junior College in West Point, Mississippi. During her career, she was employed at Keesler Air Force Base, Biloxi Regional Medical Center and Ocean Springs School System. Faye was known for her kind heart: she loved people, she loved children, and she lived her life as she believed. Faye enjoyed playing cards and bingo and she did not mince words when it came to speaking her mind. She will be remembered by a host of family and friends for her generous heart and forgiving nature. Ms. Gwendolyn Faye Shelby departed this life at the age 54, on August 30, 2013. She was preceeded in death by her first born son: Steven Donnell Shelby: her parents: Mr. William "Billy" Anderson and Mrs. Mary Lee Shelby-Beard; her adopted parents: Mr. Wilton and Pealine Posey-Barnes: her maternal grandparents: Pete and Eleanor Posey-Shelby; and a step-sister: Mildred Beard-Jones. She is survived by her son: Joshua (Alisha) Shelby, of Biloxi, MS; three adopted children: Delilah (Emmanuel) McClendon, of Gulfport, MS., Gary Harris and Dajontae Odom_Harris, of Biloxi, MS: six grandchildren: Shaniek Wilborn, of Biloxi, MS., Angel Page Thompson, of Picayune, MS., De'mia Nelson of Biloxi, MS., Caytean McClendon, of Gulfport, MS., Damion Saucier, of Waynesboro, GA., and Author Kennard III, of Gulfport, MS; three god-children: Kamara Harper, of Memphis, TN., Tacara Whitlock and Shalea Reid, both of Biloxi, MS; a stepfather: Reverend Earnest (Berdia) Beard, of Hattiesburg, MS.; four brothers: David (Avis) Shelby, of Yonkers, NY., Walter Beard, of Biloxi, MS., Apostle Paul (Donna) Beard, of Hattiesburg, MS., Apostle Rodney (Carol) Beard, of D'Iberville, MS.; four step-brothers: Julius (Patti) Beard, of Riverside, CA., Ronnie (Barbara) Moye, of Lucedale, MS., Earnest M. Beard, of Miami, FL. and John Beard, of Moss Point, MS.: two sisters: Paulette Beard-Roper and Shyri Beard-Wilson, both of Biloxi, MS.; one step-sister: Merrilyn Beard-Breland, of Miami, FL.: one god sister: Vita Gines-Christophe, of Biloxi, MS.: and a host of nephews, nieces, great nephews and nieces, cousins and friends; Helen Fairley, a special cousin; Special friends: Linda Ann Johnson-McKinney, of Madison, MS., Billy (Dot) Saffold, Dianne Collier, Joseph Rosado, Jerry Bullard, all of Biloxi, MS. and Lakisha Hamilton, of Gulfport, MS. Funeral services for Ms. Gwendolyn "Faye Faye" Shelby will be held Saturday, September 7, 2013 at Main Street Missionary Baptist Church, in Biloxi. Visitation will be from 10:00-11:00 a.m., with services beginning at 11:00 AM. The family of Ms. Gwendolyn Faye Shelby has entrusted her care and final arrangements to the caring and professional staff of RICHMOND-AUGUST FUNERAL HOME.