Her boisterous nature, standing a mere four foot eleven inches tall equips her with the type of moxie that moves mountains. A powerhouse, a contender seven foot tall couldn't and wouldn't dare to even attempt to knock her down. A jokester beyond comparison with a humor that is too goofy to ignore; Sylvia Jean Shelby most affectionately known as Mama, Auntie, and even Nanna enthusiastically referred to herself as 'SLUM DOG MILLIONAIRE'. To know her is to love her, with a vibrancy and spunk that reverberates off the very surface of her skin when the thunders from the utter bowels of the base of her voice powerfully force back if any outside objection threatened the flow of her decisions.

Born July 17, 1964 birthdays are her jam. "I have one in June, July, August, September, and December— OH!! Two in July. I was born at 4:40 am and Precious was born at 2:40 am. And Tomtom that's my rainbow baby, and you know Allen he just sat on my hip, I could never put him down. And oh Ebony was a good baby she never cried I had to check her to see when she was wet. And let me tell you, Leonard's chest was thirteen inches and his head was fourteen inches." Once a tangent gets started and that mouth gets to going there's no end. Silly humor, vulgar language, judgement, cursing and gossip heavily peppered her conversation making her one of the most entertaining people to have ever had the pleasure to interact with, but when the times for fun and inappropriate conversation deemed unnecessary the courage and breath to share encouragement and resounding faith did not find itself lost on her lips; opening herself to be apt, present, ready and willing to be the salt of the Earth. With a divinely imparted knowledge, understanding and true wisdom of the characteristics of our Savior that only comes from the painful throws of life in a broken World, the gift to help change the perspective of a negative situation was hers to give and that's exactly what she did and is still doing. "My mama came to me in a dream last night…she said 'I'm alright, I just got tired and its time for me to rest.'"

She gave what she herself wished she had and passing from death to life she finally granted herself the greatest gift of a lifetime by truly trusting our Heavenly Father, relinquishing control, and into His hands committing her spirit. "I'm healed this is how I talk when I'm healed!!"

Proceeded in death by her father and mother Alfred and Pauline Teague, her first born son Leonard Jerome Teague, and an angel baby. Survived by her husband Anthony Maurice Shelby; her children Thomas King, Allen Michael, Ebony Queen, and Precious Joy Hopper; her Sisters Karen Olivia Whitley (Edward Vaughan), Paula Denise Teague; her brothers Angelo Teague (Wanda Teague), Eugene Teague, her nephew Daniel Leon Whitley-Vaughan and niece April Danielle Whitley and a whole host of extended family, friends, and loved ones far and wide.

A public viewing will be held on Monday, April 4, 2022 in the Goldie Hargett Memorial Chapel, 905 E. Market Street, Greensboro from 12:00 pm - 5:00 pm.

A homegoing celebration will be held on Tuesday, April 5 in the Goldie Hargett Memorial Chapel.  Visitation with the family begins at 11:30 am followed by the service at 12:00 pm.  Interment will follow in Piedmont Memorial Park.