John and Mininie [Powell] Charles celebrated the birth of twin daughters in Boynton, Oklahoma on March 27, 1921. One of the twins was given the name Artelia. Artelia and her twin Otelia were the seventh and eighth of fourteen children. Altogether, there were seven brothers and six sisters in the family.



Artelia was formally educated in the Sugar Creek School. While yet at an impressionable age, she accepted Christ as her Lord and Savior at Wilson Chapel Baptist Church near Taft, Oklahoma.



After reaching adulthood, Artelia met a gentleman from Taft, Sylvester Crenshaw and she was "smitten!" Mr. Crenshaw pursued and Artelia acknowledged and their courtship led to Holy Matrimony on June 10, 1944. Together, they moved to Kansas City, Kansas after Mr. Crenshaw was discharged from the United States Army in 1944. Their union was blessed with four boys and a daughter. The family eventually relocated to Kansas City, Missouri, where Artelia assisted her husband in caring for the family through employment with Armour Meat Packaging Company.



After the death of her father, Artelia relocated to Muskogee, Oklahoma to help her sisters in caring for her mother. In 1971, she united with the Greater Shiloh Missionary Baptist Church under the pastoral leadership of Reverend Lee D. Moore.



Mrs. Crenshaw worked hard as a provider for her family. She served the Lord faithfully, participating in various ministries in the church, including Kitchen support, Usher Board or anything that was needed in the Church. She worked for volunteer programs and providing transportation for voters to the poll, and also Gospel Rescue Mission. She would feed the hungry, provide for the homeless and even if it meant transportation or financial assistance, she had a heart of gold and wanted to do good for everybody. Mrs. Crenshaw was recognized by the United Way as a "Hometown Hero" for her continued volunteer service. Because of her faith in Christ, she saw the good in everyone and always greeted you with a smile. She loved to laugh and share humor with family and friends by means of "hoo-rahing" with practical jokes or just witty comments. She just had an overall great sense of humor.



Mrs. Crenshaw became ill in 2009 and moved away to be cared for by Carl and Sherrie Crenshaw. In her 93rd year, Artelia Crenshaw "took flight with Angels to thine place of rest" on Monday, September 1, 2014 from Lithonia, Georgia. She was met at Heaven's gate by her parents, her husband, siblings and a son.



She leaves in God's care; three sons, Ronnie and Antionette Crenshaw, Lithonia, Georgia, Carl Crenshaw, Dallas, Texas, [Rosie Jordan] and Edward Crenshaw; a daughter, Sherrie Crenshaw, Atlanta, Georgia; special nephews, Allen [Jack] Myers and Felix Derousselle, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma; a special niece, Jamesetta CLay, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma; a cousin, Margie Powell, Bakersfield, California; her grandchildren, Angela Wright [Dave Austin], Kansas City, Missouri, LaShawnna Stanley, Miami, Florida, Davonna Kirkwood, Kansas City, Missouri, Ronnie Jr. and Nikki Crenshaw, Duluth, Georgia, Sylvester Jr., and Tami Taylor, Kansas City, Missouri, Carl Eugene Frazier, Kansas City, Missouri, Tyronda Mackall [Ture], Lithonia, Georgia, and Paulette Crenshaw, Conyers, Georgia; along with a caravan of great-grandchildren, one great-great grandchild, other relatives and friends.

The Sacred Farewell will commence on Saturday, September 13, 2014 at 10:00 A.M. in the Greater Shiloh Missionary Baptist Church. Reverend Vanzelen G. Brown, Pastor, will Preside. Burial will follow in the Cane Creek Cemetery at Boynton, Oklahoma.