Celbration of life for Dr. Abigail Shiver, Sunrise June 27, 1925, Sunset February 26, 2016, Service Saturday, March 5, 2016, 1:00pm, Samuel Chapel African Methodist Episcopal Church, 717 West Prichard Avenue, Prichard, Alabama 36610, Rev. T.W. Parker, Pastor

CELEBRATION OF LIFE
FOR
SUNRISE June 27, 1925
SUNSET February 26, 2016
Service Saturday, March 5, 2016
1:00pm SAMUEL CHAPEL AFRICAN METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH 717 West Prichard Avenue Prichard, Alabama 36610 Rev. T.W. Parker, Pastor

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Sunrise: June 27, 1925

Sunset: February 26, 2016

EARLY LIFE Dr. Abigail DeVaughan Shiver, a long-time resident of Mobile, Alabama, was born in Selma, Alabama, the youngest child of the late Reverend Robert Miller and Ida Glover Miller (Mama). After being widowed, her Mama remarried Rev. Frank Scott D eVaughan (Papa) when Abigail was just an infant. She was raised and nurtured by her Papa, whom she credits with being the
greatest spiritual and educational inspiration of her life. As a young woman, Abigail married Professor Robert Lee Pace and to this union one daughter was born, K.ay Robertine Pace. After Professor Pace's sudden death and many years later, Abigail was married to the Reverend D r. J . D. Shiver, pastor of Samuel Chapel A. M. E. Church, Prichard, Alabama and they became the proud parents of Hope Elaine Shiver. Rev. J. D. Shiver passed away in 1976.
RELATIONSHIP WITH CHRIST At an early age, Abigail found the Lord and developed an intensely close relationship with Christ. Throughout her life, she was a devoted, faithful member of the African Methodist Episcopal (AME) Church. She worked tirelessly in many churches, teaching Sunday school, building children and youth choirs, attending prayer meetings, Bible studies, donating, fundraising and singing in the church choir. She was a longtime member of Samuel Chapel A. M. E. Church in Prichard, Alabama, where she, under the auspices of her husband Rev. J.D. Shiver, started the John Robinson Youth Choir, the Rosa Brown Sunbeam Choir, the Youth Usher Board, the Inspirational Choir and the Gospel Chorus. She also served on the Stewardess Board and was a devoted member of the Cathedral Choir as well as the Missionary Society. She also directed and built a strong and vibrant Young Peoples' Department (YPD) program. Many young people came to know Christ through her faithful service.
EDUCATION/TEACHING Abigail was an intellectual to the highest degree. In this regard, she was an avid reader, writer, poet, inspirational speaker, world traveler, and brilliant scholar. Her insight into life and human nature was always captivating to those who had the privilege to sit and talk with her and her advice was always "on point."
She was the flrst member of her family to receive a college degree. After graduating ftrst in her class from Autauga County Training High School (Alabama), Abigail attended Bishop State College in Mobile, Alabama. She later transferred to Alabama State Teacher's College (Alabama State University) in Montgomery where she graduated with Honors earning a Bachelor of Science Degree in Education. She became well known in the Mobile County School System as an inspiring teacher who continuously motivated her sixth grade students to outstanding performance and high achievement. At Trinity Gardens Elementary School, Brazier Elementary School and Azalea Road Middle School, she touched and enhanced the lives of her numerous students through her skill, love, caring and dedication.

During this time she frequendy received Teacher of the Year and Outstanding Educator Awards from those schools.
Moving on to higher education, Abigail later earned her Masters and Doctorate D egrees in Education from the University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa. She was one of the flrst African Americans to earn a Doctorate Degree from the University of Alabama where she majored in Curriculum and Supervision. Now as "D r." Abigail Shiver, a tide well deserved, she became a college professor serving with distinction on the faculties of the University of Maryland (Eastern Shore), University of Alabama and Oakwood College (both in Huntsville) . She was one of the fust Black professors to ever teach at the University of Alabama, Huntsville where she was the Coordinator of Student Teaching and a Professor of Education. She served with distinction at these institutions and retired in 1982.
COMMUNITY SERVANT AND HONORS Dr. Shiver was a lover of music and the flne arts. She believed that all children should be exposed to music, dance, art, poetry, writing and the like. She insisted that her own children study piano, music theory, instruments and dance and she sought to provide an environment where many children could be brought into this reality. She nurtured and tutored many children in basic academic subjects and as a sponsor of talented youth programs she was a great supporter of youth concerts in Alabama, Maryland and Georgia.
Possessing a lovely soprano voice, she was also a member of the A. Leon Casher Philharmonic Choir which concertized frequendy throughout the southern United States and a great supporter of the Alabama State University Choirs under the direction of Dr. Kay Pace. Dr. Shiver served faithfully on the board of the Frederick Hall Philharmonic Chorale in Montgomery, was a frequent keynote speaker on Women's Day programs across the country, and served as an offlcial adjudicator in the Ms. Alabama World contest in Birmingham working with her sister, Dr. Flora McGhee.
Dr. Shiver was inducted into the Phi Delta Kappa Honor Society for her outstanding contributions in education. She has been listed in Who's Who in Higher Education, Who's Who in Black America and has received numerous Teacher of the Year and Outstanding Educator Awards.
PRECEDING HER IN DEATH AND CHERISHING HER MEMORY: Dr. Shiver was preceded in death by her father and mother, Rev. Frank Scott and Ida DeVaughan; her sisters, Corinne Adams, Luella Gillery, Ruth Robinson, Agnes Watts, Roberta Carter, Nora Lee Carter and Dr. Flora McGhee; brothers, Tom, Luther, Homer Gillery; and nephew, Rev. Herschel McGhee.
She leaves to cherish her memory two daughters: Dr. Kay Pace, Adanta, Georgia and Mrs. Hope Shiver-Keepman; a devoted sonin-law, Mr. David Keepman of Houston, Texas; and a precious granddaughter, Ms. Rachel Abigail (Abby) I<eepman of Dallas, Texas.
She also leaves nieces: Mrs. Lillian Carter-Cockrell of Mobile, Alabama; Mrs. Ida McGhee (Curtis, Sr.) Parker, of Hempstead, New York; Ms. Floreida McGhee Madison, of Tuskegee, Alabama; nephews: Mr. Joseph Carter of Dallas, Texas; Staff Sgt. Retired Franklin D. McGhee of Birmingham, Alabama; Elder Christopher G. McGhee (Mary), of Rocky Mount, N.C., Attorney Charles A. McGhee (Mirian), of Canton, Georgia; a devoted niece-in-law, Mrs. Barbara McGhee, Birmingham, Alabama; and two devoted God daughters, Ms. Ruby Jean Stewart, Mobile, Alabama and Ms. Mary Turner-Gooding, Atlanta, Georgia.
Grand nieces and nephews: Angela, Herschelia, Felita, Desmond, Venus, Brigette, Franklin Jr., Eric, Anthony, Doris, Crystal, Sheila, Curtis Jr., Brieu, DeVaughan, Narve, Ebony and Bronze and a host of great grand nieces and nephews, and other loving family, neighbors, students and friends in Christ.

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Reverend T. W. Parker, Officiating

Prelude

Music Ministry

Processional

"When We All Get to Heaven"

Call to Worship

Reverend T. W. Parker

Opening Hymn

"Blessed Assurance"

Samuel Chapel Choir & Congregation

Prayer

Reverend Clayton E. Taylor, Sr.

Old Testament: Psalm 91 New Testament: Romans 8:28-39
Choral Selection

SCRIPTURES "0 Lord How Excellent"

Reverend Tamika Burrell Reverend Jonathan L. Yates
C.E.T Gospel Choir (Atlanta, GA)

A s a Teacher As a Mentor As a Church Member & Friend As the Family Matriarch

REFLECTIONS

Sister Annie Pearl James Mr. Patrick Nelson
Sister Mary Brown Williams Attorney Charles McGhee

Choral Selection

"Total Praise"

C.E.T. G ospel Choir (Atlanta, GA)

Acknowledgements and Obituary

Sister Carolyn Kennedy

Solo

Sister Bessie Nobles

E ulogy

Reverend Rochelle Holsey, D. M.

Benediction

Recessional

"Come and Go To That Land"

Samuel Chapel Choir & Congregation

Interment I Whistler Citizens Cemetery I Whistler, Alabama

T all, erect, gende yet trong Our greate t cheerleader, but unrelenting when we were wrong Our Auntie, truly 0 E. OF KI D Working in the yard was indeed her pas ion Just doing her thing, no hape, form or fa hion Yous e, he was trul 0 E OF A KI D Alway up for a challenge no matter how tall Life's hills and mountain , she climbed them all Larger than life yet humble to a fault, indeed 0 E 0 F A KI D
en faced with life's heartaches, she never complained She taught us to make the best of whatever remained
hat's because, she was 0 E OF KI D er love for family was undeniable Her faith in God steadfast and reliable o question, she wa. 0 E OF A KIND mother, educator, Fir. t Lad , caregiver
wore many hats, but ne er failed to deliver Dr. bigail hiver, was 0 E O F A KIND A mo er to many, treating all children as her own If you a ked for help, you would not be left alone A unique and Godly woman, ONE O F A K IN D Blesse with endless nergy, the vitality of youth was her friend And it remained nat way even until her earthly life's end Just an ther ign, that she was ONE OF A KIND Now as she rests in the presence of God Much wisdom and know edge remain on the road she has trod And while we are anxious to again see her smiling face We rest assured that she is in a remarkably special place Reserved for God's Children who proved to be, 0 EOF KIND
Thank you auntie for helping to shape the lit/es ofyour sister Flora's children as you simu!taneous!J shaped the lives of Kay and Hope into the wondeiful
ladies they have become. I will never everforgetyour teathings, and the les:sons
learned during the ma'!Y mmmers spent inyour home. But most ofa/4 none oftts will everforgetyour unamditionall.JJve.
Your ephew and "Son"
Attonzey Charles A . MtG~ hee.................

C.E.T. Gospel Choir
Samuel Chapel AME Church Members and Friends
The family of the late Dr. Abigail Shiver gratefully acknowledges with sincere appreciation all comforting expressions of sympathy during this hour of bereavement.
We thank everyone for their cards, prayers, e-mails, flowers, visitations, words of comfort and courtesies. May God continue to bless you all.
Services Entrusted To: Willie A, Watkins Funeral Home 404.758.1731 Christian Benevolent Funeral Home (Mobile Affiliation) Programs by Darryl Allen's Plus 404.755.0965