Elizabeth Florence Sheffield, 87, passed away peacefully at the home of her daughter and son-in-law, after a valiant battle with lung disease and heart disease.
Elizabeth always considered herself a life-long resident of Beaver County, having been born in New Brighton and lived in Beaver Falls most of her life. She was a Steelers fan through and through, even when she moved to Farmington Hills, MI in May 2020 to live with her daughter and son-in-law, Roxanne and Robert Chatman. She watched all the Steeler games, wearing her Steeler sweatshirts, and commented on all the plays. She knew football!
A long-time member of Wayman Chapel A.M.E. Church in New Brighton, she became a member of St. John Wayman A.M.E. Church in Bridgewater when there was a church merger. In addition to being a Sunday School teacher for nearly 60 years, she served as the church secretary, the Sunday School Superintendent, was a member of the Missionary Society, the Lay Organization and the church choir. She supported nearly every church event and activity. For her efforts, she was chosen as an “Unsung Hero in 2013 by the Pittsburgh Conference Lay Organization of the A.M.E. Church.
Elizabeth had diverse interests. For many years, she bowled in a league, participated in a bridge club, regularly played Pokeno, traveled and played her all-time favorite game – Scrabble. She was a member of the Keystone Temple #197 of the I.B.P.O.E., a member of the NAACP and a charter member of the National Museum of African American History and Culture in Washington DC. She was thrilled to visit the museum in 2019.
But Elizabeth was mostly a “shoe hound.” She loved shoes and purses so her job at Kaufmann’s department store to sell women’s shoes was most fitting. She sold shoes there for 27 years and retired in 1993.
In addition to her late husband Waulnoth Sheffield, Elizabeth was preceded in death by her parents, Evelyn Miller Law and James Franklin Law; two sisters, Muriel Jackson and Marian Bazemore; and two brothers, James Law and Melvin Law.
She will be deeply missed by her only child, Roxanne (Robert) Chatman of Farmington Hills MI; two grandchildren, Jordan Karinne (Joshua) Chatman Garache of Alexandria VA and Ryan Robert (Melissa) Chatman of Northampton PA; her only great-grandchild, Cameron Jolie Grace Chatman of Northampton PA; two sisters, Jean Dawson and Dolores White, both of Beaver Falls PA; eight sisters-in-law; six brothers-in-law; and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins and friends. Elizabeth Sheffield was “Aunt Liz” to many people – even to those to whom she was not related!
Visitation will be Saturday, January 9, 2021 from 11AM at Washington Funeral Home, 1411 6th Ave, Beaver Falls and the Homegoing Celebration will begin at 1PM.
Due to the public health concerns caused by COVID-19, Elizabeth Sheffield’s Homegoing service will be live streamed on Washington Funeral Home & Cremations Facebook page on Saturday, January 9 at 1PM. All visitors are required to wear a mask and to practice safe distancing.
Arrangements are entrusted to Charlotte A, Sheffield Funeral Home, 454 Chestnut St., New Castle, PA. and Washington Funeral Home & Cremations, Beaver Falls, PA, Charlotte A Sheffield and Regina Washington, funeral directors.
