Barbara Ann Lorenz Shaw

Barbara Ann Lorenz Shaw, 76, passed away Thursday, January 13, 2022.  Born April 26, 1945 in Minneapolis, MN, she was the daughter of the late CW Lorenz and Roberta Fandel Lorenz.

She moved to Cleveland, TN with her family when she was 6 years old in 1951. She graduated from Bradley High School, then from the University of Tennessee-Chattanooga in 1968 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Elementary Education. At UTC, she was a member of the Chi Omega Sorority.  Barbara taught 1st and 2nd grades for 33 years earning many Teacher of the year awards. She taught for 30 years in the Cleveland City School system, the majority of those years at Mayfield School as a 2nd grade teacher.

Barbara was one of the first debutantes of the Cleveland/Athens Cotillion.  She was involved in the Women's Service League of Cleveland, the symphony guild, and was proud of her many flower arrangement awards through the Cleveland Garden Club. Barbara had unfailing faith and was a proud and faithful communicant, Eucharistic minister, and founding member of St. Therese of Lisieux Catholic Church. 

In the summers, Barbara enjoyed traveling throughout the world with her husband. Together they checked off all their bucket list destinations! During retirement, Barbara loved spending time with her four grandchildren. Reading to them, listening to them read to her, playing games, spending time with them, and watching them grow up were the highlights of her retirement! 

Barbara's most cherished times have always been with family. She was very sweet, kind, and a great listener. Her solid, unwavering support always built up those around her.  She was the wind beneath her family’s wings!

In addition to her parents, she was  preceded in death by her husband of 48 years, Richard Joseph Shaw Jr.,; in-laws, Richard Joseph Shaw & Mildred Jackson Shaw; her sisters, Suzanne Lorenz Llewellyn, Kathreen Lorenz Smith, Mary Lorenz Vines;  brother, David Lorenz; and brothers-in-law, Jack Massey and Hank Smith. 

She is survived by her daughter, Jennifer Kathreen Spezia and her husband, Anthony Louis Spezia III and their four children, Tony, Dominic, Annabella & Emilia Spezia, all of Knoxville.  She is also survived by her sister, Robbin Lorenz Oughtred (Chris) of Cleveland; twin sisters-in-law, Mildred Shaw Massey of Asheville, NC and Linda Shaw Hee (Jim) of Philadelphia, PA; brothers-in-law, Carl Llewellyn and Jud Vines; and last but not least, her beloved nieces and nephews, Carl Llewellyn Jr. (Lee), Michelle Dunn (Ken), Liesl Essex (Israel), Loren Jenkins (Bart), Libba Llewellyn, Samantha Oughtred, Dietz Lorenz, Bill Oughtred.

The funeral Mass will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, January 29, 2022 at St. Therese of Lisieux Catholic Church. Live streaming will be available through St. Therese's website:  https://sttheresecatholicchurch.org/. 

Her family will receive friends from 9:30 -10:30 a.m. at the church prior to the service. 

The inurnment will follow with a white dove release concluding the service. 

 In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to St. Therese of Lisieux Catholic Church, 900 Clingan Ridge Drive NW, Cleveland, TN 37312 (St. Therese General Fund).

We invite you to send a message of condolence and view the Shaw family guestbook at www.fikefh.com.

Fike- Randolph & Son Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements.