Sharon J Belue's Obituary
Sharon J. Belue, 77, of Decatur, passed away on Monday, June 3rd, at her residence as her family held her hand and walked her 'home.'
Born on the 5th of September, 1946, Sharon was lovingly adopted by Archie and Selma Ritchie. She married Edward J. Belue on October 22, 1965, mere months after Loving v. Virginia ruled that banning interracial marriages was unconstitutional. Even with this Supreme Court decision, Sharon and Eddie had difficulty finding a judge to wed them in a time that was so unwelcoming for two people of different races to be together. They traveled to Waukegan, IL, where they were finally wed by the Honorable Peter Z. Melius.
Her wit and whip-smart humor were a constant source of laughter for her family and friends, and her love of chocolate, ancient history, and crossword puzzles were hallmarks of her one-of-a-kind personality. Sharon radiated unwavering confidence and stood strong in her beliefs. She was the personification of acceptance and unconditional love.
Sharon will be dearly missed by her daughters, Annette, Angie, and Allison Belue; her grandchildren, Sasha (Rafael) Elias-Campuzano, Mario (Mike) Elias, Gregory Tucker Jr., Lexi Elias, Joshua Belue and Gisselle Paz; and her great-grandchildren, Deandre Elias, Sofia Campuzano, Tru Tucker, and Thalia Campuzano; and many others who have been blessed to know this outstanding woman.
She worked as an Office Manager for the Macon County Conservation District for over 30 years and was a fierce advocate for protecting animals and the environment. In her service to the county, she made many friends, and one person in particular, Melody Arnold, stood by her through her final journey home.
Sharon was reunited in heaven with her beloved Eddie, her loving parents, and her grandson Brandon Tucker.
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