Shynauna Staca Brown Gales
Shynauna Staca Brown Gales, 97, went into the presence of her Lord, after a courageous battle with cancer, early Thursday morning, August 20, 2009, at the home of her daughter and son-in-law, Aleece and Nathaniel Milton, Ridge Boulevard, Connellsville, where she had resided since 2006. She had previously resided in Greenwood Heights. She was born April 13, 1912, the youngest of five children, in Connellsville, to the Rev. John Brown and Mary Wormack Brown. She graduated with honors from Connellsville High School, the only one of her family to complete high school. She looked forward to attending college, but was unable when her family benefactor died near the time of her graduation. Her occupation became an elevator operator in the Troutman building, but she was still able to accomplish many things in her lifetime.
She married Lawrence Gales in 1934 and they had two children, Aleece and Delnor “Duddy” Gales. The education of their children was very important to them. Shynauna (Shuh-non-uh) began writing poetry at age 14 and belonged to a poetry club at age 17. She published her first book of poetry in 1968, “Say It With Poetry.” Her poetry was used in other publications such as “THE WORKER,” a missionary magazine in Washington, D.C., and in the Daily Courier. She went into the Courier office one day and asked if they would print one of her poems and they did on many occasions. She became the pianist at her church, Rocky Mount Baptist Church (which her father founded), at age 14 and she held that position until age 94. After graduation, she traveled as pianist with a gospel evangelist, Mary E. Sims. She wrote religious music which was often sung during church services. She was the choir director and president of the missionaries in her church. Mrs. Gales was very active in the Youghiogheny Western Baptist Association and was president of the Women’s Home and Foreign Missions of that association. She was also active in the Pennsylvania Baptist State Convention on occasion as devotional theme leader. She was a public speaker and gave speeches to groups and at churches in various cities. She was president of the Connellsville Chapter of Churchwomen United in the early 1970s, and served on the board of directors of Laurel House Inc. of Uniontown in the 1980s for six years. She completed training as a tutor for the Literary Council. She was very active in civil rights: belonged to the NAACP, she negotiated with the local Council of Girl Scouts to start a Girl Scout troop (No. 27) for black girls when they were unable to join existing troops. A further accomplishment in the civil rights area was to request that an African American be hired as a sales clerk at Troutman’s Department Store. This was done. She was a member of the “Socialite Club” which helped others. Mrs. Gales attended a privately owned business school located in the Troutman building for three months until they relocated to another city. She was the first African American to be accepted in the day classes. She was active in volunteering (volunteered at the local hospital), and public and civic activities, but her greatest accomplishment was her service to God and her church. She influenced many, the young as well as adults. Her great concern was for the youth, encouraging them to be educated but she also encouraged adults to attend college and was successful with one of her family members.
Shynauna is survived by her daughter, Aleece and husband, Nathaniel (her pastor), of Connellsville; daughter-in-law, Beverly Gales, of Maryland; four grandchildren: Carol Rahmig and her husband, Charles, of Mill Run, Deidre Gales Mills, of Odenton, Md., Stacia Rae Simmons and husband, Carvin, of Maryland, and Cheri Pitt and husband, Milton, of Maryland; four great-grandchildren: Megan Howard, of Jeannette, Nathaniel Rahmig, of Mill Run, Gerrell Mills, of Odenton, Md., and Gabriella Mills, of Odenton; sister-in-law, Mary Bedford, of Connellsville; nieces: Marcella Raynor, of Harrisburg, and Janice Williams and husband, John, of Churchill; nephews: Gayland Smith and Moncy Smith Jr., of Harrisburg; two dear cousins: Ruth Ennis and Elsie Haley; childhood friends: Mrs. Ida Alsop and Mrs. Gertrude Allen; and friend, Mrs. Martha Gaiter. She is further survived by nieces, nephews, other family members and friends.
In addition to her parents, she was predeceased by her son, Delnor; an infant brother (name unknown); a brother, Tazel Brown; three sisters, Lillie Belle Lewis, Virginia Anderson and Rosetta Cyrus; a beloved nephew, Cleveland Anderson; and three beloved nieces, Regina Moore, Alfreda Cisco and Marion Smith.
God’s faithful servant has now entered eternal joy. We thank God for her life.
Visitation will be from 5 to 9 p.m. today at Rocky Mount Baptist Church, 110 Poplar St., Connellsville, and until services at 11 a.m. Monday.
Interment in Scottdale Cemetery.
Funeral arrangements by MURIEL E. LANTZ FUNERAL HOME, Uniontown.