Julia Shahid Obituary

SHAHID, Julia Julia K. Shahid of Charleston died at her residence on January 3, 2009. She is the widow of Albert P. Shahid. Mrs. Shahid is survived by her children, Angela S. Young (Larry) of Mt. Pleasant, Joanne S. Kirkland of Mt. Pleasant, Diane S. Mubarak (Freddy) of Columbia and A. Peter Shahid, Jr. (Mary) of Charleston. She is also survived by eight grandchildren: Major Jason R. (Kristin) Kirkland, Amy Young (John) Copeman, Mary Julia Young, Kristina Mubarak, Michelle Mubarak, Albert Peter (Pete) Shahid, III, James D. Shahid and Julia B. Shahid; one great-grandchild, John Laurence Copeman and several nieces and nephews. Mrs. Shahid was born Julia Mary Khoury in Columbia, South Carolina, on September 8, 1921. Her parents were the late Norman Khoury and Marie Asmer Khoury who immigrated from Lebanon in the early 20th century. Her parents opened and operated a family grocery store in downtown Columbia. She was the youngest of five children, three of who predeceased her: Cleo Khoury Abdalla (Joe) Ed Khoury (Olga) and Dr. Leon Khoury. She is survived by one brother, Hasham P. Khoury (the late Rosa Khoury) and sister-in-law, Margaret Rose Khoury. During World War II, Mrs. Shahid was responsible for the operation of one of the two family owned grocery stores. The family business remained in operation until the 1980's. Mrs. Shahid was a parishioner of St. Peter's Catholic Church where she obtained her elementary and secondary education. She was taught by the Ursuline nuns, who instilled in her a deep spiritual discipline and service to the Catholic Church. In 1946 she married Albert Shahid, her husband of 52 years, and moved to Charleston where she lived throughout the remainder of her life. Mr. Shahid was the co-owner of Shahid's Department Store, a local King Street establishment which closed in 1998. She was a member of Sacred Heart Catholic Church and the Cathedral of St. John the Baptist Church. Mrs. Shahid will be remembered for her many hours of volunteer service she contributed to the Church, the community and her contributions towards charitable causes. She was a member of the Sacred Heart School Parents-Teacher Association, where she served as president, and the Sacred Heart Altar and Rosary Society. She was a member of the Lions Club Auxiliary in which she held different offices including president and treasurer. She had also been a regular volunteer at the Charleston Catholic School, where she would spend time reading to students. She will be remembered for her dedication to the Catholic Church, her devotion to the Blessed Mother, her gentle and kind spirit, her wisdom, her gracious smile and her unfailing love to her dear late husband, their children, grandchildren, great-grandchild, brothers, sisters, nieces and nephews. The family of Mrs. Shahid extends their love and gratitude to the kind and gentle care provided by Katherine Hutchinson, Ann Wade, Janie Brown and Lilly McKelvey. The family requests that in lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Albert P. Shahid Scholarship Fund, c/o Charleston Community Foundation, 90 Mary Street, Charleston, SC 29403 or to Hospice of Charleston, 3870 Leeds Avenue, Suite 101, North Charleston, SC 29405. The Liturgy of the Word will be held at 6PM with the viewing to follow until 8PM on Monday, January 5, 2009 at the Cathedral of St. John the Baptist, 120 Broad Street, Charleston. The Funeral Mass will be held at 10AM on Tuesday, January 6, 2009 at the Cathedral of St. John the Baptist. Burial will follow at Holy Cross Cemetery. The Shahid family is being served by McAlister-Smith West Ashley Chapel, 2501 Bees Ferry Road, Charleston, SC 29414. Condolences may be sent via www.mcalister-smith.com. Visit our guestbook at www.charleston.net/deaths.