Sheila Adora Solomon's Obituary
Sheila Adora was born on June 8, 1925 in Guyana, South America to
Joseph and Florence Williams. She was the youngest of eleven children.
Sheila fell in love with Ivan Alphonso Solomon and on August 7, 1943,
they were married. This was a marriage “made in heaven.” This heavenly
marriage conceived seven children Antoine Sr, Wilbur, Juliette, Beatrice,
Miriam, David and Esther. Later in life, the Lord impressed upon them to
have an eighth child, Jason, by adoption.
Sheila worked alongside her husband as he was called to pastor several
churches in Suriname, Guyana, and the United States. She was a model
First Lady in all the churches her husband was pastoring. She was the
queen of hospitality. She loved to entertain family, friends, and others.
Her home was always open to guests passing through on their way to an
assignment in another country or state. In 1968, Rev. Dr. Ivan and Sheila
Solomon (along with their four younger children) accepted the call to the
United States to pastor the Bibleway Church of the Nazarene in St. Louis,
Missouri. Several years later, Rev. Solomon was called to pastor the
Calvary Church of the Nazarene in Brooklyn, New York. The clarion call
came again for them to return to Missouri to pastor the Wellston Church
of the Nazarene - so they returned home to St. Louis. Sheila faithfully
worked alongside her husband at the Wellston Church of the Nazarene,
where the church family welcomed them back home.
Sheila Solomon was an educator and dynamic businesswoman in her own
right. She was the Founding Director of no less than four early childhood
and elementary education centers in her lifetime. Upon arriving in the
United States, she founded the Northwest Daycare Center and Christian
School in St. Louis, Missouri in 1971, where she was Executive Director
for twenty years. She was also the Founding Director of the Calvary
Church of the Nazarene Daycare Center in Brooklyn, New York in 1981.
Soon after her return to St. Louis in 1983, she subsequently went on to
found the Calvary Daycare Center in South St. Louis and resumed her
executive duties at Northwest Daycare Center and Christian School. A
tireless and passionate educator, even into “retirement” she went on to
found another small daycare center, Foundation Children’s Academy, in
1995 to fulfill an important need for educational based childcare for
working parents in her community. She inspired many other women to
pursue an entrepreneurial journey based on her stalwart perseverance,
passion for early childhood education and ability to manage operational
and final details critical for success in a heavily regulated industry.
Sheila earned a Bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood Education and a
Master’s degree in Ministry from Lael University. She was also a certified
teacher. She was the recipient of several awards recognizing her
entrepreneurialism and service to the community.
She served the Church in countless ways, to name a few - Sunday school
teacher, women’s ministry leader, Pastors’ spouses’ coordinator, keynote
speaker at several women’s retreats and a host of other ministries. She
was a Godly woman. She lived a life of prayer. Her mantra was “I am
praying for you”. Mom was an example of Proverbs 31:29 “Many women
do noble things, but she surpasses them all”.
She was a worldwide traveler, blessed to visit Austria, Italy, London, Paris,
Germany and all of the Caribbean Islands.
Mom has left a legacy for her children, grandchildren, great grandchildren
and great-great grandchildren.
She received her heavenly call from the King of Kings and Lord of Lords at
4:12 a.m. on July 11, 2020.
Mom leaves behind: her eight children ~ Antoine Sr., Wilbur, Juliette, Beatrice (Anthony), Miriam (Rawle), David (Judy), Esther (Jonathan) and Jason; twenty-two grandchildren ~ Dale Rodney (Alexis), Samuel Solomon
(Gwendolyn), Travis Nurse (Anna), Steven Rodney (Tiffany), Tiffany
Solomon-Stewart, Christine Robinson, Dwayne Nurse (Kris), Walter
Solomon (Ginger), Gregory Nurse (Sarah), Antoine Solomon, Jr. (Josie),
Esther Solomon, Keisha Futrell (Michael), Rima Solomon, David D.
Solomon (Shawndell), Byron Banfield (Shoneka), John RamsaroopGraham (Dante’), Lincoln Banfield, Jr., Kristen A. Johnson, Esq. (Jelani),
Jalessa Graham, M.D., Ashley McKoy (Anthony), Jordan Graham and
Charlotte McCormick; fifty-one great grandchildren; four great-great grandchildren; nieces and nephews ~ Verna Goodridge, Jacqueline Williams,
M.D., Monty Goodridge, Louise Cliff, Gordon Williams, Martin Williams,
Marva Solomon, Joy Vigilance and Aubrey Solomon; and a host of Spiritual
Sons and Daughters around the world especially ~ Kimberly Parker, who
cared for her during the past weeks of her life.
What’s your fondest memory of Sheila?
What’s a lesson you learned from Sheila?
Share a story where Sheila's kindness touched your heart.
Describe a day with Sheila you’ll never forget.
How did Sheila make you smile?
