SHELTON JOSEPH SONNIER, son of the late Vories and Wilma Gallow Sonnier, was born on July 18, 1947 at 6:10am in Opelousas, Louisiana County and departed this life at the age of 69, on December 8, 2016 at 8:34am.

Shelton was educated in Lake Charles, Louisiana. On December 22, 1966, Shelton was inducted into the U.S. Army. He completed his service on December 18, 1968 receiving an honorable discharge. Shelton's military assignment sent him to Vietnam.

On returning to the United States, he became a correctional officer. He worked in this capacity for thirty-three years. He was assigned to the Jessup Facility, then to Baltimore City, working at Pre-release, BCCC and Central Booking, retiring as a Lieutenant. He loved his job and co-workers.

On August 19, 1993, Shelton married Alfie (Woolford) Sonnier. They remained married until his death, for 23 years. He had three children prior to this marriage; two daughters, Michelle and Enjoli; one son, Shelton.  

In October of 1998, Shelton became a member of the New David Baptist Church of Christ, through his buddy, Artis Holt. He and his wife were baptized on January 3, 1999. He got attached to the pastor and the men of the church. He would turn to the pastor for under standing of the Bible. He became a member and President of the Baptist Men United; and even went on to become and remained a Deacon of the Church until his death. He sang on the men's choir. For a while he was even active on the Usher Board. He enjoyed retreats with the men, working in the church and with the young men. He was a no-nonsense kind of fellow, but talked much trash.

Shelton loved to fish. He enjoyed construction work and fixing things. Before doing repairs on houses he was fixing VCR's radios, toasters and kids bikes. He loved baseball, boxing and was a Redskin fan. On many a night one of us had to start out sleeping on the floor because of a bet we made. He loved Christmas, which was the dog. They would spend many hours sitting on the porch watching cars and people go by.

Preceding him in death were his parents, Vories and Wilma Sonnier; two sisters, Gerlyn Randall and Debra Sonnier.

He leaves to cherish his memory; his wife, Alfie Sonnier of Baltimore, MD; three children, Shelton, Enjoli and Chanel of Baltimore and Michelle Sonnier Carswell of North Carolina, (husband Nathaniel); three sisters, Joycia Guillory, Evelyn Paul and Patricia Sonnier of lake Charles Louisiana; one brother, Wade Sonnier of Jacksonville, Florida; grandchildren, Trischelle, Darrell, Makalla and Ziyan; one great grandchild, Zyana; brother-in-law, Bishop Woolford, Jr. of Cambridge, MD; and a host of nieces, nephews and other relatives. Last but definitely not least, his "Ace Boon Coon", Buddy, pal and friend, Cleon Reed. 

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