Mabel Sheckles Obituary

Sheckles, Mabel (nee Murden) Passed away Tuesday, January 29, 2013 after a brief illness. Ms. Sheckles, 98, a resident of Montgomery Place, was a renowned organist/pianist who served as organist for many of Chicago's churches including St. Edmond's Episcopal Church, 6101 S. Michigan Ave. (18 years); Olivet Baptist Church, then located at 3101 S. South Parkway (now Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Drive) and Monumental Baptist Church, 729 E. Oakwood Blvd. She also was pianist/organist for Wendell Phillips High School and served as one of the organists for the Church Home at Montgomery Place until her death. Mabel Sheckles was a member and former officer of the R. Nathaniel Dett Club of Music and Allied Arts and the Chicago Music Association, Br. No 1, NANM, Inc. and served as accompanist for the International Harvester Male Chorus. She was one of the 52 Hammond Organ Ensemble members appearing in a mass concert at the Chicago Tribune Chicagoland Musical Festivals held annually at Soldier Field and an accompanist for the mass chorus appearing at the Chicago World's Fair "Centennial of Progress Exposition" in 1933, and Assistant Administrator of "The Home for the Aged" at Cosmopolitan Community Church under the direction of Dr. Mary G. Evans. Ms. Sheckles was instrumental in advancing the musical careers of many musicians, some of whom will perform at her funeral according to her pre-planned funeral arrangements. Survivors include a devoted goddaughter, Judith Bailey, loving cousins and many loyal friends. A visitation will be held Thursday, February 7, 2013 from 12:00 noon to 5:00pm at Cage Memorial Chapel, 7651 S. Jeffery Blvd, Chicago, IL. Funeral services are Friday, February 8, 2013 with a 10:00am wake followed by the Celebration of Life Service at 11:00 am, also at the chapel. For further information, call Cage Memorial Chapel at 773-721-8900.