Funeral services for Shelia Rankin Gay will be 12 noon Wednesday at Greater Antioch Baptist Church, Rock Island. 

Visitation will be 11:00 a.m. Wednesday until service time at the church.

Sheila Lorene Rankin Gay has been called home to be with our Lord. She fought the fight with everything she had in her, however she succumbed to her long battle with cancer on February  9, 2016.

Shelia was born on September 13,1965 to George Rankin and Willa Rankin Sanders. She attended  Rock Island Public Schools. After high school she relocated to Minneapolis, MN to pursue her dream of being what she was raised and guided to do by her mother, a singer and entertainer. She was very successful in her career as she was signed on with CBS records with her group The Girlz produced by Andre Cymone. She gained national recognition for gifts and achievements. She also performed with her brothers Bryan (drummer) and Craig (guitar). Together they all performed with well known artists like Prince, Cherrelle, Mazarati, Alexander O'Neal, Karen White , plus many more

Shelia met Donald Gay 15 years ago and they have been together ever since. sharing very beautiful and loving times, also some hard times. Both knew and always confirmed to each other that God put this union together so it was meant to be. And so it was until the end.

Shelia was a Home Healthcare extraordinaire and took great pride in all she did. She was an animal lover and was crazy about her dogs (I must mention this so she won't be upset that they were left out) Chewy(deceased) Maxwell and Dino.

 Shelia was a member People's Missionary Baptist Church where she loved to sing the gospel with the Praise Team.

Shelia left behind her husband Donald, children DeMario and Nakeya Rankin, step children LaCarsha, Monique, Donisha, and Kiara Gay, her mother Willa and fathers George Rankin and Raymond Robbins (Marilyn). Grandmother Flora Wallace, Sibilings Kym Mans, Craig Powell, Bryan Rankin(Laura) and  Melissa McGhee. Also 12 grandchildren and  a host of many family members.

 She is preceded in death by her sister Karen Kennedy and brother Samuel Rankin Wires(Amber).

 Shelia will be missed so very much and will be forever in our hearts and memories.