Alvis Shaw Sr. was born November 19, 1912 in Brownsville, Tenn., to the late Lawrence and Paralee Hudson Shaw. He was the youngest child and sole survivor of a close-knit family of three sisters and seven brothers. He graduated from Haywood High School and attended Lane College in Jackson, Tenn.
Alvis was united in marriage to Sarah Weddle of Mercer, Tenn., and moved to St. Louis in 1938. To this union, three sons were born, Alvis Jr., Charles and Booker. He was a member of St. John African Methodist Episcopal Church for more than 50 years.
Alvin entered the U.S. Army in 1943 and was honorably discharged at the rank of sergeant in 1945. His distinguished service included the receipt of the Bronze Star (European Campaign). Alvis worked for the U.S. government until 1977, when he retired from his position as U.S. Customs Inspector. After retirement, he continued to pursue his favorite hobbies of hunting, fishing and tinkering. His wit, warmth and generosity made him known as the unofficial “mayor.”
He departed this life on Saturday March 12, 2005 in St. Louis.
He leaves to cherish his memory three sons, Alvis Jr. (Barbara), Charles (Kay) and Booker (Jane); his nephew/son Edison Mosley II; eight grandchildren; seven great-grandchildren; and a host of nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.
Two of his sons, Charles and Booker, are judges. Charles A. Shaw is a U.S. District Court judge for the Eastern District of Missouri. Booker Shaw is a judge of the Missouri Court of Appeals, Eastern District. Alvis Shaw Jr. is retired from the U.S. Postal Service as manager of postal relations.
