Larry Shorter
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Homegoing Celebration for Larry Shorter
Sunrise: May 8, 1952 Sunset: November 7, 2020
I’ve gone home to get my rest. You loved me, but God loves me best.
Graveside service will be held at 11 am, Friday, November 13, 2020, at Oak Hill Cemetery. A visitation will be held from 4 – 7 pm on Thursday, November 12, 2020, at Warren-McElwain Mortuary in Lawrence.
Larry Shorter was born May 8, 1952 in Hollandale, MS. He was the son of Mary Lee McDonald Shorter and Collins Shorter. Larry confessed Christ at an early age in Percy, MS. at the Mt. Zion Baptist Church. Larry and Jo Ann moved from Mississippi to Lawrence in 1972 and attended the Ninth Street Missionary Baptist Church in Lawrence, KS.
Larry had five brothers, Q.C, Collins, Melvin, Robert Shorter, and Willie B., all of whom preceded him in death. Larry also had three sisters, Joanna Mims and Maxine Oatis, both deceased and Lillie (Lessie) Davis, who resides in Lawrence, KS. Larry was the baby of the family.
Larry married Jo Ann Williams in 1972 and to their union two daughters were born, Veronica Shorter, of Lawrence, KS and Staci (Jelani) Janisse, of Inglewood, CA, niece-daughter, Mary Bell, of Lithonia, GA, and two grandchildren, Xavia and Jelani Janisse II, of Inglewood, CA. Larry also had a host of nieces and nephews who loved him and whom Larry was active in rearing. In 2017, Larry and Jo Ann divorced.
Larry worked as a supervisor at K-Mart, LRM as a construction worker and at Hallmark Cards as a machine operator, retiring in 2009 because of his health. Larry also owned a car detailing business while working full-time at Hallmark Cards.
A heartfelt thanks to Velma Tyler who was a special sister-in-law to Larry and Lillie. They thought of her as a sister from another mother. She was always there for them and in Larry’s last days, she was a comfort to Larry and Lillie. Also, a special thanks to Ann Bell of Pioneer Ridge and all the tireless workers at Pioneer Ridge who risked their lives every day caring for Larry.
Larry will be remembered for his big smile, and his even bigger heart in always being there to help. His family and friends are fortunate to have known him and to have been a part of his very special life. May he rest in peace.
Memorial donations may be made to the American Heart Foundation in care of the funeral home.
“Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.”. – Matthew 5:4
To the family of Larry Shorter, especially his daughters; Veronica Shorter, Staci Janisse, and Mary Bell – know that Ninth Street Missionary Baptist Church will always be here for you and that we are praying for you during this very difficult time.
And to Larry’s ex-wife, our Deaconess Joann Williams Shorter, we are here for you also as you care for and comfort the family. You are in our prayers daily!
Sending my deepest condolences to the Shorter family and lifting you up in prayer. May God shower you with His strength, comfort and love during this difficult time.
Love,
The Wright Family
Sorry for your loss he was a sweet man
Larry Shorter, we traveled from Mississippi to Lawrence, KS, in December 1972. God blessed us with two amazing daughters, Veronica and Staci. We were truly blessed when our niece/daughter Mary came to live with us after the death of her precious grandmother and your sister, Maxine Oatis, in July 1998.
The family and the neighborhood young men enjoyed working for Larry’s Detail. Veronica and Staci’s job was wax on, and wax off; Maxine and I did the inside of the cars, Gary and Jeffery did some of everything, and Mary was the awesome secretary.
We finalized our divorce in January 2017, after forty-four years of marriage. You suffered in and out of the hospital from 2017 until November 7, 2020. I believe early that Saturday morning you was tired and your soul needed resting so God called you, and carried you on home. You fought a good fight, so rest in heavenly peace. God bless you!!!
Your ex-wife,
Ms. Jo Ann Williams
I knew Larry from Hallmark. He indeed had big smile and was a great guy. I’m also a former neighbor of Lillies. My condolences go out to the family.
To Lillie and Velma and family,
I am so sorry for your loss. How incredible you have both been to Larry in his final years, when he needed you most. It has been a privilege to know you both and for me to help walk Larry home. He will finally be at peace and can rest. He always tried so hard to get well. All of his suffering is over. I will miss him and that incredible smile of his.
May you rejoice in all of your memories of him. He so trusted you both. You can rest easy knowing you did all you could for him for as long as you could. May you both be at peace, as well.
Larry was more than a brother- in- law,he was a brother to me.I remember going to stay with my sister and Larry doing the summer;Larry never made me feel like a visitor he always made me If I were at home.Larry was a person you can go to about anything.He was the best advice giver I ever meet.Larry was such a sweet man;had a smile that brighten the room.I remember the good food him and my sister use to cook for me and the family,”finger licking good”.????Larry was such a good genuine man.I will never forget how welcome he always made me feel in their home.Gone,but never will be forgotten.Love you Larry❤️
A prayer for inner strength during a lowly time .
Father God please give the shorter family strength to endure this situation and and find the blessings and lessons that it contain. Please give them the endurance to continue ahead. Guide their thoughts, words and actions, so they will walk your path of peace and
love. In the name of Jesus. AMEN
Louise johnson
Larry we will remember your work with Loyce Bell, him fixing you Detailing, to the family you are in our prayers
The Bell Family
Larry we will remember your work with Loyce Bell, him fixing you Detailing, to the family you are in our prayers
The Bell Family.
Larry Shorter were and awesome brother in law, I remember and the summer going to Lawrence to keep Veronica and Staci and they took us to the fair and I got on a ride that scare me to death almost when I got off Larry ask me were I scared and I said no he ask why your feets are shaking and we laugh so hard. That’s a memory I never forget. So rest on my brother I love you, but God love you best.
Sending heartfelt love and sincere condolences to Aunt JoAnn, Veronica, Staci and Mary from California. I know this is a very difficult painful distressing unexpected moment in time for your immediate family. I know you each had a special love for Uncle Larry. I watched each of you get on a plane in Cali to go care for him in Kansas over the years nursing him back to health after each stroke or illness. I know you risked your own health to visit him during Covid in the hospital. But no matter what Uncle Larry loved each of you in his own special way. I loved his charming personality. Every time he came to Cali he was so happy and proud of his beautiful daughters. In the end he fought a good fight. He held on as long as he could. He heard your final messages of love that you prayed over him at the Nursing Home in his final days. God knows y’all did the best you could under the unfortunate covid circumstances. Be still. Give it to God. “No weapon formed against you shall prosper. Every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgement thou shalt condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord and their righteousness is of me, saith the Lord”.
Uncle Larry,
I am so thankful to God for making you my Uncle. You were always so kind, and generous with your time and your heart. I think many can agree that you were like a second Dad. You picked out my first car .. and that laugh was one of a kind. You always had the ability to brighten any room you were in. Uncle Larry you were by far the coolest Uncle anyone could have, and you always had swag even before it was called that. LOL ???? I still hear you asking me if I wanted a “pop” and rinsing the can off for me first. (I was over 40 when you did that ????). As devastated as I am that you are no longer physically here with us, I am comforted in knowing that you and Poppie are reunited, and you are no longer in pain. I love you and will always be grateful that I was fortunate enough to have you as my Uncle. Get your rest my dear Uncle… until we meet again. Detra
The Harvey and Byers offer or condolences to the family. May God walk with you in this sad and difficult time.
I will miss you soo much uncle Larry????ill miss that great gorgeous smile you always had… and that laugh as well????until we see each other again uncle Larry. Continue to RIP. I love you.
So sorry for your family loss. Will be praying for you guys
Thank you all for your thoughts, prayers, love, during the passing and the burying of my beloved Daddy, Mr. Larry Shorter. This is truly not easy losing my Daddy, this has left a hole in my heart. It does not seem we were able to properly grieve, but God is real and he is carrying us through. No weapon formed against us shall prosper, we are more than conquerors. God is most definitely good, by his grace and his mercy this too shall pass. Lord I thank you for your love, and I thank you for giving me, Mr. Larry Shorter, as my Father. I will always love him and I pray I will see him again when we get to heaven. God Bless and God’s Grace. Love Always, my Daddy!!! I pray for you, you pray for me, and watch God change things. Love that is the key, got to be a part of me!!!
Love Always,
Ms. Veronica Shorter