Wanda (Shamberger) Belgrave

Wanda was born in Chicago’s south side neighborhood of Englewood on January 9,1953.  She grew up in Chicago's historic southside community, Morgan Park where she attended Bates Elementary School and John D. Shoop Academy (Shoop School), she graduated Cooley Vocational High school and attended Chicago State University. 

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Wanda was a dedicated sister, mother, grandmother, and aunt. She worked to bring awareness to child poverty, safety and increased support for grandparents raising grandchildren. She worked to improve the lives of families by founding organizations like Parents and Children United to Stop Child Abuse. An organization Wanda started in her mid 20’s in Chicago. Wanda held fashion shows, tutoring classes for young people; wrote, produced and directed plays that brought awareness to incest and domestic violence. 

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Later after moving to Connecticut, Wanda started the support group, Women Incest Survivors Helping Each Other Survive and a new community based organization, Each One Teach One, Inc, Bloomfield. Each One Teach One held recreational programs, job fairs, Holiday dinners for the community, and life skill workshops for people. She’d want us to extend a very special thank you to the Each One Teach One members, supporters and volunteers. She was always proud of having worked with you! Thank you!!!

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Wanda was the recipient of several awards, some include the 2004 Bloomfield Citizen of the Year Award from the Bloomfield Civitan Club and the Woman of Character Award, 2004, Hoffman Auto Group in association with Tuesday night’s Hartford Courant Unique Lives and Experiences where she was presented the award by Attorney General Janet Reno at the Bushnell Theater, Hartford. 

 

Wanda is survived by her sons Lorenzo Jones, Sr, John Walker, and Gerald Walker, her grandchildren Aissa Jones, Armani Walker, Lorenzo Jones, Jr, Loren Jones, and Jordan Sims (step), her sisters Rosalind Johnson and Jacqueline Hall, hundreds of nieces and nephews, and other family and friends that spanning across the country. Wanda is preceded in death by her daughter LaShaundra Jones, granddaughter NiAisa Jones, her parents, Oscar Shamberger Sr and Florence Rawls, her sisters Elenore House, Gwendoyln Smith, Myrle Phillips, and brother Oscar Shamberger Jr.

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Wanda’s leaves behind her best friend and love of her life, David Bagley. The family extends our greatest appreciation for David.