Ironically, as a member of the Ardent Gardeners and chair of the Beautification Committee at First Baptist Church East Nashville, beautiful flower Vickie Jenkins Shaw, is now planted in heaven.
Vickie Jenkins Shaw was born March 29, 1948 and went to heaven’s great garden on February 8, 2017.
As Shaw was a writer for the Nashville PRIDE for many years, we celebrate her life, as she remained a dedicated reader and advocate of the Nashville PRIDE well after her retiring from making submissions to the paper. Vickie was always an advocate for encouraging others to carry out their assignments from God. She was not only a loving supporter of her children, SaCara and David, but she was also a great supporter of everyone’s endeavors. She offered support in every way she was able with her time, her finances, and her marketing, especially sharing through ‘word of mouth.’
After retiring from writing, in late 2014 she became a ‘literary agent.’
“As a literary agent, it is a pleasure to work with individuals in marketing a product that comes from the heart of those sharing their book project with the public,” Shaw said.
She often had helpful suggestions that would aid in the completion of a writer’s project in order to make it ready to share with the public. She was also the first to hold a book signing in the TSU Avon Williams downtown campus library.
Born Vickie Marie Jenkins to Barthell Jenkins and Olivia Spence, she was the oldest of five children.
She was introduced to God at Fairfield Missionary Baptist Church, and educated in the public school system at Cameron High School where she graduated in the class of 1967. She then attended Tennessee State University where she served as president for her freshman and senior classes and was inducted into her beloved Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Alpha Chi Chapter. She earned a bachelor’s degree in 1971 and later a master’s degree in 1972.
It was also at TSU that she met her beloved Albert Shaw. They were married in December of 1972.
She remained supportive of her alma mater, as she and Albert were dedicated TSU football fans.
Upon their marriage, Vickie became a member of First Baptist Church East Nashville.
Vickie had a plethora of activities that always kept her life busy. In addition to raising two lovely children, she was an active church member.
Not only did she serve as the chair of the Beautification committee, but also on the Missionary Society.
She was also a member of the Ardent Gardeners, the oldest African American garden club. One of her proudest projects was installing and maintaining the gardens at Meharry Medical College and later for the Doris Campbell Busby Memorial Garden in the atrium of Nashville General Hospital.
In her failing health, Vickie continued to love and enjoy every waking moment with her family and friends. Upon a visit from Wanda Clay (freelance writer to the Nashville PRIDE), Geraldine Heath (retired managing editor of the Nashville PRIDE) and Rev. Barbara Woods-Washington (columnist for the Nashville PRIDE) on the day prior to her passing, her husband shared the joy that Vickie expressed during their visit to Gatlinburg. He said as they celebrated their anniversary, Vickie expressed delight in witnessing the engagement party for SaCara and her fiancé, Jonathan Pride, and in watching her daughter choose a wedding dress, both via Skype.
She leaves to cherish her memories her beloved husband of 44 years, Albert Shaw; son, David (Joi) Shaw; daughter SaCara Shaw, M.D. (fiancé Jonathan Pride); mother, Olivia Stratton; siblings, Harold (Emma) Stratton, Jr., Paulette Readus, Claudia Curry, and Marquitta Stratton; siblings-in-love, Rev. Bonnie Dobbins, Barbara (William) Akins, Morris Shaw, Thomas (Sonia) Shaw, and Carmen Sparkman; nieces; nephews; great nieces and nephews; lifelong friends, Patricia Bradford, Canzada Hawkins, Ellen Kelley White, Jackie McClellan, and Wilma Hughes-Steel and a plethora of friends who will continue to offer ‘thumbs up’—Vickie’s signature signal that all is well.
