Jewel L. Conley

Jewel L. Conley (nee Sharkey) was born to the late Henry and Carrie (Mallett) Sharkey on September 16, 1938, in Kosciusko, MS. She came to know the Lord at Marble Rock Missionary Baptist Church. Jewel received her formal education in the Attala County, Mississippi school district, graduating from Tipton Street High School in Kosciusko, MS.

Jewel along with her mother, Carrie Sharkey, moved to Milwaukee, WI in 1957 where she furthered her education as a psychology major at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee.

In 1962, Jewel married Cecil Conley.

Jewel worked in nursing at Milwaukee County Mental Health Complex in Wauwatosa, WI for 30 years, where she received numerous recognitions of achievements, and retiring in 1991. God’s servant work continued as she provided home care services through Select Staff until as recently as June, 2022, at the age of 83 when her health began to decline.

Mother Jewel was a devoted member of Tabernacle Community Baptist Church. Her faith never wavered and last year, Jewel received an honorary acknowledgement for her 64 plus years of membership. She was a dedicated Mother of the church and loved reading the bible.

Jewel, the youngest of 6 siblings and the last of her generation, was known for being kind and selfless, rich in love and grace. Family was paramount to her. Jewel’s home was open to all, welcoming and inviting; the family gathering place for holidays and cookouts; she loved to cook and often prepared feasts for family events. She stayed in contact with family members by reaching out on a regular basis and showing compassion. Jewel went above and beyond to help members of her family and others. Jewel was the matriarch and cornerstone of the family.

Jewel loved gardening not just for the fresh produce it provided, but also for the sense of fulfillment and purpose it brought her as she tended to her plants and watched them thrive under her care. Her passion for gardening was a testament of her nurturing spirit.

Jewel travels throughout the United States included Alabama, California, Georgia, Hawaii, Ohio, Texas, Virginia, and Washington. She was also an animal lover and most of the time had a dog and/or cat.

Jewel was preceded in death by all of her siblings, Catherine (Joe) Cotton, Adean (Earnest) Haynes, Alvin Sharkey, Willie Coffee Beason, and Blanche (Henry) Turnbull.

Jewel leaves to cherish her memory 4 loving children, Pamela Conley, Derrick Conley, Tamara (Jason) Newell, and Michael Conley; 8 grandchildren, Xavier, Jamal, Detric, Jada, Kalynn, Matthew, Michael “MJ”, and Aubrielle; 2 great-grandchildren, Xio and Ava; 2 grand-dogs, Finesse and Truth, the family cat, Ke-Ke, and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.

“We were blessed to have Jewel in our lives. We will think of her often, with the deepest love and admiration and honor her memory for the rest of our lives.”

Proverbs 3: 5-6 (KJV) Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not onto thine own understanding; in all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.

Visitation will be held on Thursday, March 7, at Krause Funeral Home, 9000 West Capitol Drive, Milwaukee, from 4:00 PM – 7:00 PM. Additional Visitation will be held on Friday, March 8, at Tabernacle Community Baptist Church, 2500 West Medford Avenue, Milwaukee, from 11:00 AM until the time of Service at 12:00 PM. A Procession to Wisconsin Memorial Park will follow.

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