Sheila Iona Tyson-Blair transitioned from this life Monday, Sept. 15, 2014, surrounded by her loving family and friends. Wake: 6 to 8 p.m. Friday at Mount Pisgah Baptist Church, 1801 Evans Ave., Fort Worth. Interment: Noon Saturday in Rambo Cemetery in Bivins, Texas. Sheila was the second child of Mr. Shirley and Mrs. Lula Mae Tyson of Fort Worth. She attended Morningside Elementary and Middle schools. She received her high school diploma in 1976 and later matriculated at Howard University in Washington, D.C., where she earned a bachelor of business administration degree in marketing in 1980. At Howard, she was a charter member of Iota Rho Chapter of Delta Sigma Pi Fraternity and later served as its president. Sheila was inducted into Who's Who Among Students in American Colleges and Universities and was initiated into the Alpha Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc. Sheila continued her education at Dallas Baptist University in Dallas, where she earned a master of business administration degree in marketing in 2001. Sheila's professional career spanned more than 30 years with Xerox Corp., Exxon Mobil and Grainger Inc. In 2006, she received the Grainger Annual Achievers Club Award. Sheila was a member of the President's Club of Xerox for the years 1987, 1988 and 1989. She was a member of the American Society of Training and Development. She was preceded in death by a sister, Jolinda Kelly. Survivors: Her loving parents, her father, Shirley Tyson, and mother, Lula Mae Tyson; her baby and loving puppy, Jazzmyn; fiance, Ricardo Hurd; nephew, Charles Kelley (Stephanie); great-nephew, Charles Kelley; great-niece, Lauren Kelley; godchilden, Carol Cortez of Arlington, Wash., Vickie Allen and Da'Marcus "DJ" Jones; and special friends, Gwen Buffington, Terri Butler, Marsha Crear, Crystal Daniels, Sandra Evans, Joyt Gray, Beverly Malloy, Renee Powell and Suzanne Taylor.



Published in Star-Telegram on Sept. 18, 2014