SUNRISE: OCTOBER 15, 1929
SUNSET: MARCH 28, 2022
Dr. Howard Lee Shelf lived in Schertz, Texas and passed way unexpectedly on March 28, 2022, when an improperly serviced medical AV port designed to provide vascular access through a major artery in his arm to aide his kidney dialysis imploded causing his death.
Howard was born on October 15, 1929, to Mary Bell Shelf, but he was primarily raised by his beloved grandmother, Dollie Shelf whom he called “Mama.” The family lived in Silver Hill, a small Black community carved out near a wealthy neighborhood called Buena Vista in Winston-Salem, North Carolina.
Decades later, his mother confirmed that his father was Henry Thomas, and that he had half-brothers, Leon and Ralph, and a half-sister, named Arlene. Howard knew Mr. Thomas and his half-siblings because they lived in his neighborhood.
Although he faced numerous personal and financial obstacles throughout his childhood, he was extremely intelligent, an excellent student and a hard-worker. Howard often said that he learned his first business lessons as a paper boy. He had a special knack for acquiring customers.
He gave his new customers the newspaper for free to entice them to pay for it to resume delivery when the free service stopped. He was also the “Postmaster” at the schools’ mock post office. His experience selling stamps and cards to the other students, and his newspaper salesmanship prepared him for a successful business career later in life.
Howard loved music and played the piano and the trombone at a local church. His favorite instrument was the saxophone, but none were left when he joined the band at Atkins High School, so he played the trumpet. Howard formed his own band when he was a sophomore in high school and dreamed of becoming a professional jazz musician.
He hoped to be able to pursue his passion for music as a member of the military band when he joined the U.S. Air Force in 1949. He was sent to Lackland Air Force Base for basic training. There, he joined the Air Force band which had five other Black musicians. It was one of the first, integrated bands in the Air Force.
Due to the segregation laws that he and the other Black members of the band constantly faced in San Antonio, Howard decided to apply for re-assignment. He was stationed in Denver, Colorado and Enid, Oklahoma. In June 1951, he was stationed in Wichita, Kansas where he met his future wife, Angeline Davis, on a blind date. They got married on April 9, 1952.
His Commanding Officer recommended Howard for a position as a recruiter for the Air Force, a rare opportunity for a Black man. He was stationed in Kansas City, Missouri, where he received the Top Recruiter Award for that district in 1958.
The difficulty he encountered finding a home in Kansas City became the fuel that pushed him to enter the real estate business. He attended Weaver Real Estate School in Kansas City and graduated with his license for the State of Missouri in 1958.
In 1960, Howard was assigned to Goose Bay, Labrador where he was instrumental in starting a chapter of the Prince Hall Masonic Lodge. Howard and Angeline organized many social activities for the Black military community in Goose Bay, and they both enjoyed the time that they spent there.
Howard received numerous awards and promotions throughout his career in the Air Force. His last assignment was as Chief Minority Officer, Recruiting NCO near Randolph Air Force Base in Universal City, Texas. After encountering the usual racial barriers to achieving the recognition that he deserved for his work, Howard was finally promoted to Chief Master Sergeant in 1973.
Once again, he had difficulty finding a home for his family. After numerous attempts to buy a home, Howard and Angeline moved their family on Base. Every day, he went with Angeline to look at houses. She finally found a new home nearby in Live Oak, Texas.
Howard knew that they would have difficulty purchasing the home if they approached the sales agent themselves. He was fortunate to find an old Air Force buddy who was working in real estate and who was willing to draw up the sales contract on his behalf. After years of searching, Howard, Angeline and their four children moved into their first, new home.
Shortly thereafter, Ray Carrington, a local realtor and broker, asked Howard if he’d like to work in his real estate firm. Howard went back to real estate school to get his Texas license at San Antonio College in 1974. Soon, he was making more money on the weekends selling houses then he was working full-time in the military.
On July 25, 1975, Howard retired from the military and began pursuing his Broker’s License. He received his license in 1978 and immediately started his own real estate business.
His stellar, decades long career in the real estate business was both the fulfillment of his dreams and inspiring to others. He attributed his success to using a formula that he called A.I.D.A (ATTENTION, INTEREST, DESIRE, and ACTION). Through every obstacle, racist barrier, and perceived set-back, he employed A.I.D.A and refused to be discouraged.
With Howard as the Broker and real estate agent, and Angeline employing her talents as a gifted interior designer, the couple worked together to create one of the most successful real estate businesses in the area.
Howard influenced many others to follow in his footsteps to become Brokers, real estate agents, and business owners including his daughters, Sandra Shelf Fergins and Marcia Shelf Orlandi, and his son and namesake, Howard Shelf, II, along with numerous other relatives and friends.
Howard and Angeline were very active in the N.A.A.C.P. and became Golden Life Members. As the Chairman of the Membership Committee, he used the skills that he acquired in the Air Force to recruit new members for the organization.
In 2002, Howard started a non-profit, The Shelf Foundation, to provide scholarships for deserving high school students. He funded the Foundation for many years, and now that he is gone, our family hopes to continue his work via donations (in lieu of flowers) to support the Foundation.
In recognition of his long years of service to the community, the University of Virginia at Lynchburg awarded him with an Honorary Doctor of Divinity. He was very proud of this honorary degree and title.
Dr. Howard L. Shelf and his sweet wife, Angeline had planned to commemorate their 70th wedding anniversary with an elaborate vow renewal ceremony on April 9, 2022. Now, the joyous observance of their anniversary that was planned for today has been turned into a celebration of his life…and what a life he lived!
PREDECESSORS: Dr. Shelf was predeceased by his beloved grandmother, “Mama” Dollie Shelf, and his mother, Mary Bell Weathers, and his father, Henry Thomas, his brother, Leon Thomas, his beloved Aunts, Alberta Worthy, Margaret Holmes, and Carrie “Ruth” Fulwiley and his Uncle, Sonny Fulwiley, and his Cousins, William Worthy, Wilbert Worthy, LaRue Taylor, and Benjamin Holmes.
SURVIVING FAMILY MEMBERS: Dr. Shelf is survived by his wife, Angeline, his children, Sandra Fergins, Angela Shelf Medearis, Howard Shelf, II, and Marcia Shelf Orlandi, and their children, grandchildren and great-grand-children, as well as his brother, Richard B. Weathers and sister, Annie Lee Scott, and his cousins, Gwendolyn Love, Deborah Holmes, Shirlene Holmes, Joe Holmes, Wanda Jean Holmes-Williams, Greg Worthy, Carl Worthy, Perry Worthy, Larry Worthy, and Andrena Worthy.
A Viewing and the Funeral Services for Dr. Shelf will be held at Mt. Zion First Baptist Church, 333 Martin Luther King Dr., San Antonio, Texas 78203 on April 9, 2022. The Viewing will start at 10:30 a.m. and the Funeral Service will start at 11:30 a.m.
Dr. Shelf will be buried at Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery, 1520 Harry Wurzbach Rd., San Antonio, Texas on Friday, April 22, 2022 at 10 a.m. – 10:45 a.m. The Military Honors Ceremony will begin at Shelter # 2 promptly at 10:15 A.M. Attendees need to be in place no later than 10:10 A.M. For more information, please go to Dr. Shelf’s Ever Loved website page, info below. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to The Shelf Foundation, the non-profit organization and scholarship fund that Dr. Shelf started and was so proud of because it aids students who need help to continue their education.
Donations can be submitted at https://everloved.com/life-of/dr-howard-shelf/.
