Martha Charity Shears

Martha Devine Charity Shears departed this life early Thursday (December 29) morning at Riverside Medical Center in Newport News, Va. She was born July 6, 1931 to the late John Devine & Mable Johns Charity. She was one of 10 children who was born and raised in Spring Grove, Va. She was joined in Holy Matrimony to David T. Shears, Sr. on December 6, 1952. They were married for 64 years until the Lord called him home on December 13, 2016. At an early age, Mrs. Shears was a member of Church of All Nations Apostolic Church in Spring Grove, Va. After marriage, they moved to Elberon, Va. and worshipped with the family at True Apostolic Church of Jesus in Dendron, Va. Martha & David later moved to Surry, Va in the early 1950s. Mrs. Shears made sure that her children attended church at Apostolic Church of Jesus every Saturday. Mrs. Shears was a loving and devoted wife, mother, sister, aunt, grandmother, great-grandmother and mother-in-law who was affectionately known as "Bigma". She was a full-time homemaker who took great pride in providing for her family. She was a praying woman who believed in God. She would often say to her children, "Charity begins at home and spreads abroad". Amidst her busy schedule, she would take time to read her Bible daily. She was a quiet and loving lady, who did not like to complain. When times were hard, she would take a little to make a lot. Her family enjoyed hot meals everyday. She was a skilled seamstress who enjoyed canning, pickling and preserving. Even though she was small in stature, she was big in heart and had a heart of "Gold". Even during her illness, Mrs. Shears found strength to care for her late husband, who would often call out to her just to know where she was. She was preceded in death by her husband, David T. Shears Sr., her son David T. Shears Jr. and her daughter Evelyn Shears Turner. She will lovingly be missed by her children, Charles (Helen), Barbara Williams, Martha Hines, Cynthia, Gloria, Formander (Marlene), Carol, Kathryn (Jadeo) Harinandan, Thurlow, Mollow, Regina Shears-McCloud and Reginald (Tracey) Shears; her brothers Clarence, James (Louis) and Roger Charity, deceased brothers Allen & John Jr.; her deceased sisters Ethel Scott, Catherine Wooden, Dorothy & Mae Charity; brothers-in-law Elder Lawrence Jones, Deacon Joshua(Rosa) Shears; sister-in-law Marie Young and a host of grandchildren, great-grandchildren, nieces, nephews and many other relatives. A Celebration of Life service will be held on Thursday, January 5, 2017, 12:00 PM at St. Paul Holiness Church, Surry, Va. Viewing will be held on Wednesday January 4, 2017 from 4-7 PM at the chapel. Interment will be in the St. Paul Holiness Church cemetery. Professional services entrusted to Shivers Funeral Chapel.

Burial Date January 5, 2017

A Celebration of Life service will be held on Thursday, January 5, 2017, 12:00 PM at St. Paul Holiness Church, Surry, Va. Viewing will be held on Wednesday January 4, 2017 from 4-7 PM at the chapel. Interment will be in the St. Paul Holiness Church cemetery. Professional services entrusted to Shivers Funeral Chapel.