Katurah Huggins

Katurah (Shackelford) Huggins (affectionately known as Mother Katie, Aunt Katurah, Aunt Katie) was born on August 20, 1926 in Martin (Stephens County), Georgia as the last child of the late Allena (Stovall) Shackelford and Walker Shackelford.  She went home to be with the Lord on February 6, 2022.  During Katurah’s childhood, she attended public school in Martin, GA.  She and her family attended the Hurricane Grove Baptist Church where her mother was a member and they also attended Greater Hope Baptist Church where her father was a member.  Katurah’s paternal grandfather was a deacon and one of the founders of Greater Hope and her maternal grandfather was a preacher and member of Hurricane Grove so she (like her older siblings) was active at both churches.  After Katurah’s father passed away, a new chapter in her life book began when she and her mother moved to Cedartown, GA to live with her sister Mary and Mary’s husband, Dudley.  In Cedartown, Katurah attended high school and graduated from Cedar Hill High School with honors.  She also joined Cedar Spring Baptist Church as a teenager and later served there for many years as President & Head Usher on the Senior Usher Board.

Katurah married Charles E. Huggins and two daughters were born from this union.  Katurah was a wonderful mother, an outgoing person, and became very involved in civic activities in Cedartown.  She was an active member in the local PTA and eventually served as Vice President of that organization.  She was a volunteer-canvasser to encourage others to register and vote during political elections was also a volunteer for the March of Dimes and other charitable organizations.  In Cedartown, she had several jobs over the years, which ranged from being a domestic worker and part-time waitress, working as a local insurance agent for the Afro-American Insurance Co. and later as a medical/office assistant for Dr. William H. Blanchard.

In 1968, Katurah moved to Columbus, OH and began a new chapter in her book of life.  She became an active member of Triedstone Missionary Baptist Church where she served for many years on the Senior Usher Board as a doorkeeper, and for a while as President and Chief Usher.  Katurah was also a member of the citywide ushers’ organization.  She was employed by the Ohio Department of Education and later by the Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicles.  After 23 years of state service, she retired in July 1992.  Katurah enjoyed cooking and traveling.  She was an Associate Member of the Gospel Music Workshop of America, a member of the Columbus Ohio Chapter of the Cedar Hill High School National Alumni Association, and a member of the following family reunion groups which were very special to her: the Shackelford Family Reunion, the Rice-Stovall Family Reunion, and the Careathers-Huggins-Whatley-White Family Reunion.

Katurah was preceded in death by her parents, brothers — Deverse Shackelford, Lonnie Shackelford, Bennie (Bessie) Shackelford, Curdes (Jewell) Shackelford, Kermit (Cordie) Shackelford, and sisters — Martha Harris and Mary (Dudley) Holmes.  Katurah loved the Lord and was a cheerful, willing, faithful servant; she loved people and endeared herself to all who became part of her circle.

Katurah leaves to cherish her precious memory, daughters:  Frances Levoyce Huggins and Beverly C. Huggins; granddaughter Paula D. Huggins; the following nieces and nephews and their families: Teresa (Rod) Baker of Michigan, Kenneth Careathers of Michigan, Dr. Timothy L. Careathers of Michigan, Dr. Sherri Garrett of Georgia, Pastor Lloyd (Malinda) Garrett of Maryland, Andre (Deetra) Whatley of Maryland, Eva Garrett Wood (Eugene Wood) of Illinois, Kathleen (Neil) Cowart of Georgia, Kathy (Henry) McConico of Michigan, Karen Careathers of Michigan, Anthony (Darlene) Careathers of Michigan, Paul (Amyre) Careathers of Michigan, Jean Pierre Shackelford of Ohio, Charles (Michelle) Shackelford of Australia, Elaine Maria Shackelford of Ohio; special son Dr. K. Clay (Dorothy) Horton of Georgia and special daughter Robin Nash of Georgia; special cousins & their families: Rhoda (Shurron) Green of Georgia; Debra (Paul) Smith of Ohio, John Ziegler of Ohio, Willie Stovall of Texas, Johnny Payne, of California; a host of relatives in the above-mentioned family reunion groups where Katurah became recognized as the Matriarch in recent years. She has also remained close to a special friend and high school classmate: Mattie Gibbs of Georgia.  Although many of Katurah’s friends transitioned some years ago, she was grateful that the families of those friends remained very dear to her, including the families of: Sis. Sarah Jackson, Mother Dorothy Levingston, Mother Mary Farmer Bryant, Sis. Clara Garrett, Sis. Ernestine Ellis, Sis. Marie Milling — to name a few.  She was also blessed with a special group known as “Turie’s Kids,” and extended family which started during the days she lived on E. 25^th Avenue. The group is now comprised of different generations and includes Bishop and Lady Jerome H. Ross Sr. and family, Isaac and Anna Harper and family and a vast number of others.  To God Be the Glory for all He has done!

Visitation 11:00 AM and Funeral Service 12:00 PM Thursday, February 17, 2022 at Triedstone Missionary Baptist Church, 858 E. 3rd Ave. Mask and Social Distancing are required. Interment at TBD. Ministry of Comfort entrusted to MARLAN J. GARY FUNERAL HOME, THE CHAPEL OF PEACE EAST, 5456 E. Livingston Ave. To stream the service visit http://triedstonebaptistchurch.org/live-video-stream.