DeShields, Anna Mae, affectionately known as Ann, went home to be with the Lord on May 3, 2017 at her home. She had just celebrated her 100th birthday.

She was born in Philadelphia, PA, on March 6, 1917 to the late Charles and Lucy Hurshey. The family later moved to Pleasantville, NJ. She was a faithful member of St. Paul African Methodist Episcopal Church in Pleasantville, where she joined at the age of 5 under the leadership of Reverend Herbert Van Buren. She was appointed to serve on Stewardess Board Number 1 by Reverend John Smith, and later became Vice-President. She served for 23 years until health problems set in, then remained Stewardess Emeritus until God took her home. She was honored by the New Jersey Conference Missionary Society on April 26, 2003, for her exemplary Christian motherhood, spiritual guidance, love and dedication in the service of the Lord. On March 3, 2006, she was officially appointed Mother of St. Paul African Methodist Episcopal Church by Dr. William L. Cody. She loved the Lord and everyone loved her. On her 90th birthday, she was named Mother of Pleasantville by the late Mayor Ralph Peterson, and awarded June 10th as Anna Mae DeShields Day by Mayor Jesse Tweedle on June 10, 2016. She also received a letter from President Barack Obama and Michelle for her 100th birthday.

She received her formal education in the Pleasantville school system. She worked at the YMCA, Garwood Mills, Steinbach, was a manager at Medco Drug Store, and a teacher at the Learning Center of Pleasantville. Beloved mother Anna DeShields had an unconditional love for her family. She had a heart of gold, always giving, always sharing. She loved to work in her garden planting flowers, and cut her own grass until age 96. To know her was to love her and she will be sadly missed.

She was predeceased by her parents, Charles and Lucy Hurshey, past husbands, Alfred Spence, Sr. (6 children) and Wayman DeShields, Sr., and sons, Archie, Sr., William and Stephen Spence. She leaves to cherish her fine memories her son, Alfred Spence (Rita) of Pleasantville, daughters, Anna Mae Hart of Atlantic City and Margaret Coleman (Bill) of Pleasantville, daughter-in-law Reverend Barbara Spence of Galloway, godson James Smalls, 20 grandchildren, 52 great grandchildren and 23 great-great grandchildren.

Funeral services will be held at 11:00 AM on Saturday, May 13, 2017 at St. Paul AME Church, 1203 Harrison Avenue, Pleasantville, NJ, where friends and family may call from 9:00 AM until time of service. Interment at Atlantic City Cemetery, Pleasantville.

Arrangements entrusted to Adams Perfect Funeral Home, Northfield, NJ.