Family and friends
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Join MemoriesLaretha Tolbert Shell you will be missed, you were always willing to help and had a positive spirit about you. I will miss you coming around the corner saying, "Hey Ree!" I think it's safe to say that you enjoyed the holidays - you made sure the Christmas tree that you put up in your work area last Christmas was decorated immaculately, and I'll never forget when all the men on the 5th floor dressed up for Valentine's Day (what a treat, lol!) Rest Peacefully
Oriana Josey Shell, Iām at a loss for words. You WERE the afternoons team. We will miss you so much šš
My Dear Shell, My brother in Christ, friend and Co worker. When, I think of you I see fun loving person who loves people and live. Shell, you always wanted everyone to be ok and eating good. I remember 1st starting at DTE on afternoons you greeted me with such wariness and caring personality I am forever greatful for all the things you showed me ab...
My name is Sarah and I work in the Kentwood contact center. I never directly knew Shell. But I remember the couple of times during our customer service days that he performed his poetry. I thought his performances were powerful and obviously many years later I still remember. I was sad to hear of his passing. I know he will be missed by many. My th...
Deena Richards
I can not even begin to wrap my mind around the fact that you are gone. I am never going to see you bend the corner to my desk calling me "Ma" even though I was younger than you lol. You spent many days at my desk just kicking it and talking about a wide range of things from family, work, music, movies, etc. I am going to truly miss your infectious...
My friend, Shell aka Phat or aka Arethas #1fan! We set side by side working the afternoon shift, we fought, laughed, ate, sung, argued and then back to loving each other. We shared so much during our time working together. Baby, when you walked in a room that Cologne would come first. Smelling good. This is a hard one to swallow. You had a Ora that...
Shell Shell Shell I literally just talked to you from the day we met all he would say ima teach you about these outages use the job chronology screen , sis girl I see you been using mane and tale( old school hair products ) girl cook me some Mac and cheese again , we having something to Celebrate life so come on and eat we have enough , you workin...
Wow I'm still in shock. Shell such a breath of fresh air. Always positive and always wanting to know what you needed to do to better yourself. Every time I saw you immediately you would say "Hey Ms Colette you alright?" Every time there was a storm you would come in and make sure we were okay and be sure and let us know exactly how you wanted y...
Shell!!! I was so hurt when I heard about your passing, tears are streaming down my face as I write this. God has been gathering up his Angels and I know you're one of them. I remember when YOU decided we needed to have chicken and waffles at work and you started coughing because, something went down the wrong way, so you raised both of your ar...
Shell! I cannot believe it! You were the go to, the one who made EVERYBODY COMFORTABLE! I'll never forget my first few holidays on 2nd you were THAT MAN! I remember your ask me what I brought for lunch and why didn't I make you a plate!? Then I FINALLY GOT YOU the homemade sweet potato pie! And I was scared but you said you were impressed! I'm rea...
I knew SHELL since we were all at Southfield. Even attended his spoken words event down near Wayne State. One Sunday he called me and told me he wanted to go to the Somerset Collection and would I like to go too. (he hated to drive.) Sure. We had a blast. Went to Sephora. Shell loved a lot. He loved his DAD. His nieces and nephews. Frank ...
Shell, it was always a pleasure to see your smiling face. You were are biggest advocate for engagement and always cheered on your coworkers when they were recognized. You were always kind and considerate to me. You are definitely missed. RIH.
Shell, I just loved everything about you! You will be forever missed. You showed me the ropes of the afternoon shift. You showed so much kindness and shared your knowledge. I always admired how much of your time was spent helping the young, gifted, black youth in the community by mentoring them and ensuring they stayed in school. Movies... you ...
SHELL WAS A BEAUTIFUL AND TALENTED SOUL, I ONLY HEARD HIS SPOKEN WORD ONCE BUT I WILL NEVER FORGET IT!!! HE WAS SO NICE AND KIND TO EVERYONE, HE WILL BE GREATLY MISSED!!!
I REMEMBER THE FIRST DAY I WORKED EVENINGS ON A SUNDAY. YOU CAME AND INTRODUCED YOURSELF TO ME AND WAS TELLING ME HOW THINGS WENT ON "YOUR SHIFT" LOL. I THOUGHT YOU WERE AN ANALYST OR SUPERVISOR BECAUSE YOU KNEW YOUR STUFF. YOU WERE KIND AND ALWAYS WILLING TO HELP. HEARING OF YOUR PASSING REALLY HEART MY SOUL. MAKE SURE WHEN YOU GET TO HEAVEN YOU T...
My DTE Brother.....My fellow MUSIC LOVER.... Almost every storm, when I would be serving food, Shell would slowly slide through the food line (ALWAYS smelling GOOD) and would stop to see what song was playing on my playlist...then he would say "What you know ABOUT THAT"!! Then the conversation would take off.....next thing I know...the food line ...
I work out of Grand Rapids, so i didn't see Shell often. We actually only met once and had a wonderful interaction. He was so gifted and it radiated off of him. He could easily captivate a crowd and take the people on a journey of a thousand miles using only his thoughts and words. VERY POWERFUL!! I didn't interact with him much, so i don't fe...
Uncle Shell, when I joined the DTE family you made sure to point me in the right direction. You would come in early and show me what you learned and encourage me to learn everything that I could. I will miss the educational and culture conversations and debates. Right now I would love to hear the afternoon shift (2017) arguing over some debate you ...
I don't remember how Shell and I became acquainted, but where it happened was at DTE Energy. He was gregarious, boisterous, and caring, the first 2 characteristics being the opposites of me. They say that opposites attract, so I liked him as a person instantly. He had a 2nd job at the movie theater and he'd often invite my husband and I to come and...
Shell, thank you for being kind and helping me during those few times that I worked overnight, teaching me to use the new electric outage page and processing a gas leak after hours. You always used to say, "we do things different after normal business closes. " I will forever remember all of those lessons. So the question now is, where do we go fro...
One day Shell and I were talking and I was frustrated about the way people drive. I told Shell I turned down my gospel music and he said, no Tonji that is when you turn it up. I will truly miss him. I had the opportunity to hear him "flow" and really enjoyed how smooth he was. Again, I will truly miss him. Another "flower" added to God's beautifu...
Well, well, well, the time has come for you to get your wings, Shell. I am still in disbelief seems like yesterday I just saw you at Friday's restaurant in Southfield. The memories of you are everlasting, and the friendship we built over the years is unwavering. So many memories are racing through my head this morning. Iām listening to Dr. Mat...
Shell, such a sudden loss to all those who loved you. During my short time of knowing you, the kindness that you showed was unmeasurable, you took the time when you did not have to make sure we knew policies or how to do something, answer questions and then come back and follow up. There wont be anyone now to holler my name out from a distance in t...
Shell, I honestly cant believe im writing this. When I first came to afternoons you were the only one that took time to show me all the ropes. We instantly became brother and sister as we realized we both were saved and sanctified and grew up in the same church family and knew all the same people. You ALWAYS told me to speak up for myself whene...
Shell was someone I had known for years and I have to say I am happy to have known such a great person. He was always smiling, always said hello, remembered everyone's name. He was a person that when you saw heading your way you just wanted to smile. Every encounter with him left you feeling good regardless of how you were feeling in just the mi...
Shell, This is a real hard pill to swallow, We was just laughing about me sending you a quarantine Cheese cake lol, You are going to be MISSED SO MUCH! So in disbelief! -Sascha
Shell I just can not believe your gone. This is so heartbreaking. You were always such a sweetheart. You would intentionally do stuff to get on my nerves just so we could argue and laugh. You were so smart and always loved to help people. You always wanted everyone to be included in a good time. You went over and above to learn the new system and ...
Shell, I cant believe that you are gone. I loved our talks about the latest and greatest movies that are out or coming out soon. I can hear you saying Mrs. Rogers have you seen the trailer for.... We would laugh and complain about some of the craziness people liked. Writing this is truly heart breaking. I pray that God will cover your family and I...
Hi Shell - when I think of you I remember that big smile, and the welcome you would give to each and every person that joined our shift on afternoons. You made us all feel comfortable, and you were always our go-to guy for Service Suite and just about everything else we needed. And not just throwing us a fish, but instead "teaching us to fish" so...
MY BROTHER!! The word came and to say the wind was knocked from me is an understatement. You were just in PRT, we were just chatting on teams and than your gone. No more laughs, no more fussing at me to read those gas leaks... none of that. You have been so many things to so many people, your love, smile, legacy will live always and in all way...
I would first like to send my heartfelt condolences to Shells siblings, nephews especially the twins (whom he affectionately called his babies) and our DTE family. I have know Shell for more than 30 years, we fellowshipped at Burnette Baptist Church in our younger age. Then as adults we had the great privilege of working together at DTE. Knowing t...
Thought about you just the other day, missing you like it was yesterday. Happy Heavenly Birthday, love you Shell always your big sister from another mother.