Tributes

Jerry Glenn Shaw The cheerful laughter of Jerry Glenn Shaw was unexpectedly silenced when his heart decided it was time for his fun to end. With a big smile and widespread arms Jerry traveled his last trip when he entered Heaven on March 2, 2025, at Methodist Hospital in the San Antonio Medical Center. Jerry was born August 27, 1951, in the Minden neighborhood near Henderson, TX to Earlene Anthony and Charlie “Pete” Starling who both preceded him in death. As stated in Psalms 90:10 KJV, he embraced a lifespan of three scores and 10 with additional blessed years. He lived a full and joyful life of 73 years young, with a smile on his face every day he woke up. His favorite way to greet the world was with widespread arms saying with all his gusto “What a great day to be alive!” Jerry was and will remain the light and the love of Sylvia Cruz, his life partner of 28 years, and Sylvia was Jerry’s. A special friend recently revealed to her that he referred to her as “My Sylvia”. Together they made quite a pair with Jerry constantly putting laughter and smiles in their day. Jerry graduated from Texas A&I University in Kingsville (now known as Texas A&M University) where he achieved two degrees of Bachelor of Arts in Math and Master of Science in Statistics. Jerry was extremely proud of being the first in his family to graduate from college. Jerry felt a college education was the path to his advancement and a way out of his Corpus Christi neighborhood, giving encouragement to everyone about the importance of continuing their education. During his college years, he made his way home to his dear mother and to work various summer jobs. While working on his Masters, he shared his love and knowledge by becoming a professor of Math. Jerry being Jerry he took a little pleasure in working the football jocks over those math formulas! Jerry’s first technology job was at NASA in Houston, Tx. He soon found himself in San Antonio after he was offered a job in IT Systems at USAA and took great satisfaction in successfully “Movin’ on Up” to become a Lead Systems Analyst for many years. Jerry retired from USAA after a 32-year outstanding career. Jerry was influenced by many factors in his young life that made him a caring and giving adult and doting son. As he was holding his USAA job, Jerry’s mother developed brain cancer and had several surgeries. There were many times when Jerry spent time visiting his mother Earlene in the nursing home. One of their happier things to do was to watch the “Bold and the Beautiful” or “General Hospital” depending on his arrival time. Mom and son always looked forward to these visits and when possible, Jerry would “bail her out” and take her to have her favorite Luby’s plate. In her better health, Jerry and Earlene made various road trips to visit family members , and she took much delight in riding in his white Porsche. Jerry gave her the first airplane flight of her life along with many other first experiences that brought him great joy. He enjoyed doing what he could for his family treating them to dinners, sharing time, and cracking jokes that were on occasion inappropriate. He would always say “make me your first call” when help was needed. After his health issues began, his contact was mostly by text or phone calls, but he always did what he could for any family member. Jerry always felt lucky to make it out of his old Corpus Christi neighborhood and remembered a man named “Willie” who looked out for the neighborhood kids from single parent homes. Willie took them fishing while they camped out and cooked hot dogs and told stories. Jerry would have never volunteered for the Big/Little Brothers Program had it not been for the memory of Willie that stayed with him a long time. The fun and mentoring activities given by Willie encouraged him to apply to be a Big Brother and he was accepted! Jerry spent five years plus with his Little Brother Anton who he remained in frequent contact throughout these years and often spoke very fondly of the time he spent with his Little Brother. He joked with Sylvia that in those days he could “score points with the ladies” at the mention of being a Big Brother. When Jerry had several hospital stays in 2024, he signed up to be an Organ Donor, continuing his efforts to make this a better world. His family can proudly say as an Organ Donor he will give someone unknown to Jerry the Gift of Sight. If you knew Jerry and became friends, it was for life as he was a loyal and helpful friend. His feeling documented in a Big Brother write up shared with Sylvia by Anton and his mother was “you got to leave the planet with the kids so invest in them.” Ask any young family member and they will tell you Jerry was ready with good advice and made them feel seen, heard and included. He was a supportive and positive individual with a welcoming spirit and a “bring it in” hug. Add a joke and a big smile and that was Jerry giving Jerry. His granddaughter Taryelle lovingly said “he wouldn’t be Jerry if he didn’t shake the room a little bit and sprinkle a little bit of himself on everything.” Jerry was an avid tennis player during his high school years and went on to play in college and with special friends Bruce, Mark and Jack at USAA. He competed in tennis tournament tours around Texas starting in high school through his USAA career. Jerry loved tennis and he and Sylvia would travel often to New York City to spend a week enjoying the US Open Championships and all the sights of New York. Their shared love of tennis made every trip fun and exciting. They also loved traveling throughout the US and took 16 cruises in their blessed time together. They made many memorable memories including meeting Hurricane Katrina in the Gulf of Mexico on a Saturday night in August 2005. Sylvia stayed awake all night as the ship tossed and rocked in turbulent waters wishing she was wearing her water shoes while Jerry joked that she knew how to float on her back! Then there was the spectacular event of sailing through the Panama Canal and visiting many countries on the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans, and endless wild and crazy dancing at the all-day parties and concerts on the Smooth Jazz Cruise. Another sport Jerry looked forward to was his annual ski trips with his many friends, but especially Rick and James. They were a regular trio on any snowy slope they could get to. The cold slopes were where Jerry experienced his first unforgettably good bread bowl of hot chili! Jerry also introduced Sylvia to her first and only ski trip! She took one ski lesson and said enough! Jerry also participated on the USAA soccer and softball teams. He could jump high as if lifted up on air to give the soccer ball a good header, one of his best soccer moves. Jerry leaves a large family to remember and to forever cherish his memory. His love will live on in the heart, spirit and soul of his adoring life partner Sylvia Cruz. Never forgotten by his daughter Tammy; grandchildren Tyaidra, Taryelle, Taiden, Marietta, Warrenson Jr and Madison; stepdaughter, Crystal (Pancho), daughter IL Carol (Aaron Decd); step grandchildren Sophia, Isabella and Gabriella. Loved and respected by brother, Freddie Anthony (Gemma); sisters IL Shirley Glaspie (Travis Decd); Hilda Ramirez (Andrew) and Norma Gonzales (Joseph). Beloved cousins Charmene, Darlene (Frelon), Veronica, Calvin (Leatha), Glance (Inez), Wayne (Rose), Ray (Pearl), Tramber (Chris), Petra (Freddie) and Dollie. Also half-brothers Lee Charles (Eva), Lonnie (Rita), and Mitchell Wayne (Rose) and half-sister Renae. Other loved family members are nieces and nephews Kanani (Jon), Kerie (Mathew), Normeka, Pamela, Travis Taylor, Cameron, Ashley, Briana, Jonathan, Braylon, Deshawn Taylor, Marissa, Zaiden, Ethan, and Tyler (Tatiana). In addition, a host of other relatives and many dear friends and neighbors. Jerry was preceded in death by his mother and father Earlene and “Pete”; daughter Tamera Edwards; sister Barbara Nell Shaw, half-sisters Thelma (Mack) and Mae; brother Travis Joe Earl Glaspie, half-brother Jesse; stepson Aaron Viagran; aunts, Merry Foster, Betty Starling (Odell), Agnes (Geneva) Blunt, Mildred Johnson, Opal Baldwin (James), and other family members. The family recognizes the high costs of today’s prices and requests that if you so choose a donation may be made to your church or favorite charity in the name of Jerry Glenn Shaw. We also wish to thank everyone for all the love and support provided to us in this difficult time of sorrow and grief. Jerry was a colorful character who loved sports and if you would like to attend his services, please wear colorful clothing or Cowboy/Spurs colors. Jerry would ask you to wear a smile, spread your arms wide and tell someone “What a great day to be alive!”

Tributes

Jerry Glenn Shaw

August 27, 1951 - March 2, 2025