Shelia Ann Segerson's Obituary
Sheila Ann Segerson, cherished mother, sister, and educator passed away on March 19, 2022 at
the age of 77.
Sheila, or Wild Roze as she joyfully called herself, was truly one of a kind. She burst into this
world like an effervescent firecracker - radiant, spunky, and untamed. Sheila was fearlessly
independent and relished life, believing all life was miraculous. She was incredibly kind,
compassionate, dedicated, and hilarious. Sheila wasn’t the life of the party; she was the party.
She was devoted to her daughter, Robyn, whom she raised as a single mother. Together they
adored nature, music, movies, and Pancho’s cheese dip.
Sheila found her calling as an educator, inspiring lives across multiple generations. She earned a
double major from the University of Kentucky in Special Education and Elementary Education,
and received a Master’s degree in Counseling from the University of Memphis. Her teaching
and counseling career included CDC, K-8 Sp.Ed. and fifteen years of teaching third grade before
becoming a guidance counselor. Sheila received numerous awards throughout her career
including Recognition of Creative Teaching, recognition of her Contribution to Human
Relations, an environmental award from the Shelby County Environmental Improvement
Commission, and the National PTA Phoebe Apperson Hearst Outstanding Educator Award in
Washington, D.C.
"Queen Sheila", as she was affectionately called by students and faculty, was passionate about
children and believed teaching was one of the most honorable and important professions. She
inspired children to develop a quest for knowledge and a love of learning. She taught children to
value themselves and others, and to live by a code of honesty, personal responsibility, and
integrity. Sheila was committed to enhancing the quality of education and began workshops on
ADD/ADHD, Conflict Resolution, Food for Thought, and Peer Mediation for students, teachers,
and parents. The Peer Mediation program she developed for K-3 was the first of its kind in the
country. She worked tirelessly leading evening workshops for educators and parents including
Fighting Fair, Wanted: A Well Behaved Child, and The Parent to Parent Workshop. Sheila
established a Parenting Center in school libraries where parents could have access to books to
help navigate parental-child communication and connection. She held counseling sessions for
children coping with grief and divorce and shepherded a Self Esteem Team that promoted selflove, problem solving, decision making and goal setting skills. She held Careers on Wheels'
events and created a Recycling Club so children could learn from a young age about the
importance of protecting the environment. Sheila was an essential member of Alpha Sigma, a
local chapter of Delta Kappa Gamma; International Society for Key Women Educators. She
recently served as Co-Vice President and hosted many memorable meetings entertaining and
inspiring her sisters in education.
Sheila would often say, “Teaching is not what I do, it is who I am.”
Sheila is reunited with her parents, Dr. Edward C. Segerson, Sr. and Ann Foppiano Segerson of
Memphis, and beloved brother - and favorite musician - James “Jimmy” Segerson. She will be
enormously missed by her daughter, Robyn Bliley, son-in-law Chad Wilson, brother Edward
Segerson, Jr. and his wife Lucy, sister Sharon Stuart and her husband Brig, sister-in-law Linda
Segerson, nieces Jennifer Segerson-Reed and Jackie Trainer, nephews Jonathan Segerson and
Christopher Stuart, loved grandnieces and grandnephews, dear friends Linda Bessette, Laura
Evans, Danielle Murai and Pamela O’Fallin, dog companion Romeo, & family and friends too
numerous to list but not forgotten.
A Celebration of Life gathering will be held on Saturday, April 9, 2022. Details will be shared
with family and friends.
In lieu of gifts or flowers, please consider donating to Big Brothers/Big Sisters of America,
Action Against Hunger - USA, Animal Welfare Institute or Conservation Fund
What’s your fondest memory of Shelia?
What’s a lesson you learned from Shelia?
Share a story where Shelia's kindness touched your heart.
Describe a day with Shelia you’ll never forget.
How did Shelia make you smile?