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Sylvia La Rue Shorter was born to the late Arton Ragland, Sr., and Eulelia Ragland on August 21, 1941. On Monday morning, November 17, 2025, the angel of mercy escorted her home to be with the Lord, granting her the peace and redemption promised through Jesus Christ.
She attended Wilmar and Drew Central Public Schools, graduating on May 17, 1956. She joined Shady Grove A.M.E. Church at an early age. On October 3, 1959, she was united in holy matrimony to Joe Lawrence Shorter, and they were married for 47 years. After moving to Detroit, Michigan, in 1966, she worked as a teacher's aide at Columbian Elementary School and as a CNA at Joy Road Nursing Home. In 1980, she returned to Wilmar, AR, where she worked at Leisure Lodge (The Woods) Nursing Home in Monticello as a rehabilitation assistant and at Warren ABC Preschool until her retirement.
Sylvia became a member of Pentecostal Flame COGIC in Wilmar, AR, under the leadership of Elders Reather and Alvester Phillips, serving faithfully for 24 years as a spiritual advisor and member of the Mother's Board. She later returned to her family church, Greater Shady Grove A.M.E. Church, under the leadership of Rev. Marvin Mosby, where she remained a devoted member until her health declined.
God blessed her with the ability to sing alto, soprano, and tenor-an authentic angelic voice anointed by the Holy Spirit. Sylvia loved singing in church, listening to gospel music, watching westerns, and sitting peacefully on her front porch. She was an active member of the Community Center and Soul Seniors in Wilmar under the leadership of her niece, Mayor Toni Perry. In her early years, she was a member of #59 Eastern Star (OES).
She is preceded in death by her brothers Otis McNealy, Clamie C. Herman, Warren G. Ragland, Arton Ragland, Jr., and Kenneth Ragland; her sisters Jeannette Ragland, Annette Ridgell, Evelyn Jackson, Barbara Ragland, Jimmie Jerman, and Margalene Bankhead; her husband Joe Lawrence Shorter; one daughter, Audrey Lucas; and one son, Lawrence Shorter.
She leaves to cherish her precious memories two daughters, Grindl Mosby and husband Charles of Wilmar, and Melissa Gordon and husband Carl of Cincinnati, OH; one son, Dominique Rhodes of Wilmar; one stepdaughter, Abagail Spencer of Cornerville, AR; a son-in-law, Terry Lucas of Wilmar; one daughter-in-law, Judy Shorter of Monticello; sisters-in-law Carol Herman of Wilmar, Bertha Ragland of Los Angeles, CA, Patricia Green of Detroit, MI, and Barbara Gray of White Hall, AR; grandchildren Lakie Davis of Wilmar, Tasha Lewis of Cornerville, Mario Tatum and Micala Reese of Cincinnati, OH, and Eiza Vazquez of Virginia Beach, VA; great-grandchildren A'Zaryah Tatum, Omari Tatum, and Kayden Bradley of Cincinnati, OH, Dee Spencer of Cornerville, LaKia'h Davis and Ny'Asia Halsell of Wilmar; a special loving cousin, Berdie Lee (Snook) Jarmon of Detroit, MI; and two friends who held a special place in her life, Jack Douglas of Monticello and John "Skin" Hammock of Wilmar.
Funeral Services will be Saturday, November 29, 2025, at 11:00 a.m. at Shady Grove A.M.E. Church in Wilmar, Arkansas. Burial will be in Wilmar Cemetery in Wilmar. You can sign Sylvia's guestbook here on her page.
She attended Wilmar and Drew Central Public Schools, graduating on May 17, 1956. She joined Shady Grove A.M.E. Church at an early age. On October 3, 1959, she was united in holy matrimony to Joe Lawrence Shorter, and they were married for 47 years. After moving to Detroit, Michigan, in 1966, she worked as a teacher's aide at Columbian Elementary School and as a CNA at Joy Road Nursing Home. In 1980, she returned to Wilmar, AR, where she worked at Leisure Lodge (The Woods) Nursing Home in Monticello as a rehabilitation assistant and at Warren ABC Preschool until her retirement.
Sylvia became a member of Pentecostal Flame COGIC in Wilmar, AR, under the leadership of Elders Reather and Alvester Phillips, serving faithfully for 24 years as a spiritual advisor and member of the Mother's Board. She later returned to her family church, Greater Shady Grove A.M.E. Church, under the leadership of Rev. Marvin Mosby, where she remained a devoted member until her health declined.
God blessed her with the ability to sing alto, soprano, and tenor-an authentic angelic voice anointed by the Holy Spirit. Sylvia loved singing in church, listening to gospel music, watching westerns, and sitting peacefully on her front porch. She was an active member of the Community Center and Soul Seniors in Wilmar under the leadership of her niece, Mayor Toni Perry. In her early years, she was a member of #59 Eastern Star (OES).
She is preceded in death by her brothers Otis McNealy, Clamie C. Herman, Warren G. Ragland, Arton Ragland, Jr., and Kenneth Ragland; her sisters Jeannette Ragland, Annette Ridgell, Evelyn Jackson, Barbara Ragland, Jimmie Jerman, and Margalene Bankhead; her husband Joe Lawrence Shorter; one daughter, Audrey Lucas; and one son, Lawrence Shorter.
She leaves to cherish her precious memories two daughters, Grindl Mosby and husband Charles of Wilmar, and Melissa Gordon and husband Carl of Cincinnati, OH; one son, Dominique Rhodes of Wilmar; one stepdaughter, Abagail Spencer of Cornerville, AR; a son-in-law, Terry Lucas of Wilmar; one daughter-in-law, Judy Shorter of Monticello; sisters-in-law Carol Herman of Wilmar, Bertha Ragland of Los Angeles, CA, Patricia Green of Detroit, MI, and Barbara Gray of White Hall, AR; grandchildren Lakie Davis of Wilmar, Tasha Lewis of Cornerville, Mario Tatum and Micala Reese of Cincinnati, OH, and Eiza Vazquez of Virginia Beach, VA; great-grandchildren A'Zaryah Tatum, Omari Tatum, and Kayden Bradley of Cincinnati, OH, Dee Spencer of Cornerville, LaKia'h Davis and Ny'Asia Halsell of Wilmar; a special loving cousin, Berdie Lee (Snook) Jarmon of Detroit, MI; and two friends who held a special place in her life, Jack Douglas of Monticello and John "Skin" Hammock of Wilmar.
Funeral Services will be Saturday, November 29, 2025, at 11:00 a.m. at Shady Grove A.M.E. Church in Wilmar, Arkansas. Burial will be in Wilmar Cemetery in Wilmar. You can sign Sylvia's guestbook here on her page.