Biography: Shelia Lighty Stern was born on June 18, 1947 to the late Anderson and Delia George in Bellevue Hospital, NYC.

Shelia attended Charles Evans Hughes High School and began her career journey with Bell Telephone Company and later with the US Postal Service, from where she retired.  While working there she met and married her beloved and devoted husband Joseph Stern on August 27, 1986.

Shelia birthed two children, a son Trevor Lighty and her daughter, Lolita Lighty predeceased)  from a previous marriage. Shelia grew up with siblings, Myra (predeceased), Vergie, Michael and Sarah in the St. Nicholas Houses.

Shelia joined Canaan Baptist Church of Christ over 25 years ago where she was a member of the Sanctuary Choir and Dance the Word Ministry.

Shelia was known to be the life of the party and lived a fulfilled and blessed life along with her husband Joseph. She loved fashion and had her own unique style. Her favorite color was red, which she matched from head to toe.  She enjoyed playing Candy Crush, doing puzzles, and savoring seafood.

Shelia and Joe traveled extensively, especially to their favorite place Viva Las Legas.  I guess you can say they had the luck of the Irish, although Joe is Jewish.  Her traveling came to a halt when her health began to decline; even when she knew she couldn’t make it, she still kept hope alive and wanted to make plans for vacation with friends.

Shelia enjoyed life and did things her way to the end.  She knew in her heart God was about to call her home, and home was where she wanted to be on the 27th of August.

Shelia leaves to celebrate her life: Her devoted and loving Joseph; son Trevor;

sisters-Vergie Green Harris (Leon), Sarah Harris of Montgomery, Alabama and brother Michael George of Encino, California.

Grandchild Lorenzo Robinson and great grandchild, Harmony Robinson; Goddaughter- Starshema Butler; Uncle James Johnson. Nieces and Nephews-Deborah Tirado, Cheryl (Angelo) Johnson, Tiffany (Darrell) Fulton, James Green, Michael Samarie and Zaire George, Nathaniel (Tamica) Harris, Naomi (Patrick) Moore and a host of grand nieces, grand nephews and cousins.                                                                                                                                                     

Special friends-Jackie Battle, Tyrone Powell, Cathy Alston and many, many more.