The Man Who Bridged Two Worlds
I often hesitate when thinking about Purnell Nathaniel Shields. He was born in Birmingham, Alabama, on December 19, 1910, into a family struggling in the early 20th century South. Robert Lee Shields and Anna Estelle Laws raised him his siblings in Jefferson County. Life changed early. By age 10, his father had left and his 1912-born sister Anna Catherine Shields died in 1917. These losses shaped him but also drove him.
My mother remarried Frank Coleman in the early 1920s when I was twelve. The family moved north to Chicago during the Great Migration. Purnell grew up quickly on the South Side. He attracted summer crowds like a magnet. He was known as a gregarious jazz fan, BBQ maestro, and percussionist who could make any backyard a stage. His five-foot-ten-inch height and pleasant personality made strangers feel like old friends. Behind his appeal was a keen awareness of his daily challenges.
Family Ties That Span Generations
Purnell Nathaniel Shields built a large tight knit family that still echoes today. He married Adaline Rebecca Jumper on December 21 1929 in Cook County Illinois. Rebecca born in 1909 brought her own strength as a licensed practical nurse. Together they raised seven children five daughters and two sons in a modest South Side home. The couple later separated but both stayed involved in their kids lives. Rebecca supported the family through nursing work after the split.
Here is a clear table of the immediate family members I have traced:
| Relation | Name | Key Dates | Notable Details |
|---|---|---|---|
| Father | Robert Lee Shields | 1885 to about 1920 | Carpenter who left early |
| Mother | Anna Estelle Laws | 1887 to 1975 | Led the move to Chicago |
| Wife | Adaline Rebecca Jumper | 1909 to 1988 | Nurse and family anchor |
| Oldest Daughter | Carolyn Ann Shields | About 1930 to 1990 | Part of the Chicago core |
| Daughter | Muriel Jean Shields | 1930s | South Side upbringing |
| Daughter | Adrienne Shields | 1930s | One of seven siblings |
| Daughter | Robbie Joyce Shields | 1930s | Family gatherings regular |
| Daughter | Marian Lois Shields Robinson | July 29 1937 to May 31 2024 | Fourth child mother of Michelle Obama |
| Daughter | Grace Shields | 1940s | Stayed connected in Chicago |
| Son | David Shields | 1940s | One of two brothers |
Marian Lois Shields Robinson stands out in the family tree. Born in 1937 she married Fraser C. Robinson III and became the steady heart of the next generation. Their children include Michelle Obama born in 1964 and Craig Robinson. Through them Purnell became grandfather to two of the most recognizable figures in modern American life.
The line stretches further back and forward. Purnell was the grandchild of Dolphus Theodore Shields born in 1861 and Alice Easley born in 1865. Dolphus himself had lived through slavery and lived until 1950 offering an optimistic view of race relations that touched multiple generations. Purnell was also the great grandchild of Melvinia Shields and Charles Marion Shields. On the other side of the tree he connects to Avery Robinson as great grandparents through later branches.
Looking forward Purnell Nathaniel Shields counts among his great grandchildren Malia Ann Obama Sasha Obama Avery Robinson and Leslie Robinson. The numbers tell a story: one man seven children at least two grandchildren and four great grandchildren who carry the name and the resilience forward. I see the family as a living tapestry threads of Alabama soil woven into Chicago streets and beyond.
A Lifetime of Work and Quiet Achievements
From childhood, Purnell Nathaniel Shields labored with his hands. He began working in a syrup plant at 19. He later operated Northwestern Railroad turntables for big train car returns. In the Depression, he did city relief work. He worked as a garment worker, building decorator, plasterer, and home painter and carpenter for decades.
Racial obstacles impeded him everywhere. Despite his talent, he couldn’t join unions or get big-firm contracts. The family survived on various salaries in red-lined South Side communities. Rebecca added nursing pay after separation. Although they never had much money, they built a family house. Family from blocks around attended Fourth of July cookouts with jazz drumming and laughing. Purnell emphasized school discipline and hard effort to all kids. Those teachings stuck. I admire how one individual despite daily discrimination planted seeds that became national successes.
He worked dozens of jobs by the 1970s. His latter years were spent hosting parties on the South Side. He died of heart arrest at 72 on July 30, 1983. His remains are buried Mount Glenwood Memory Gardens South in Glenwood, Illinois. Following in 1988, Rebecca is buried at Lincoln.
An Extended Timeline of a Life Well Lived
I laid out the key dates to show the steady arc of Purnell Nathaniel Shields life. The numbers reveal a man who moved with history.
- December 19 1910: Birth in Birmingham Alabama
- 1912: Younger sister Anna Catherine born
- 1917: Sister dies and father departs
- Early 1920s: Family migrates to Chicago South Side
- December 21 1929: Marriage to Rebecca Jumper at age 19
- 1930: Begins work in syrup factory
- July 1937: Daughter Marian born
- 1930s to 1940s: Seven children born in Chicago home
- 1950s: Works railroad and construction jobs
- 1960s: Family gatherings become tradition
- 1970s: Separation from Rebecca yet remains active father
- July 30 1983: Death at age 72 in Chicago
This timeline spans seventy two years from the Jim Crow South to the civil rights era and beyond. Each decade carried new jobs new children and new ways to hold the family together.
Recent Echoes in Family Memory
When Marian Lois Shields Robinson passed on May 31 2024 at age 86 the world turned its eyes back to her parents. Obituaries and public statements highlighted Purnell and Rebecca as the foundation of that South Side household. Social media mentions stay quiet mostly appearing in genealogy circles or brief family history posts. No major new stories surfaced in 2025 or early 2026. The focus remains on the private strength he passed down rather than public spotlight.
FAQ
How many children did Purnell Nathaniel Shields have?
Purnell Nathaniel Shields and Rebecca raised seven children together. Five were daughters and two were sons. Marian Lois Shields Robinson was the fourth child born in July 1937.
What jobs did Purnell Nathaniel Shields hold during his life?
He worked in a syrup factory at age nineteen then as a turntable engineer for the Northwestern Railroad. Later roles included garment worker relief laborer building decorator plasterer house painter and carpenter. Racial barriers limited his union access yet he adapted across more than ten different positions.
Who are the grandchildren of Purnell Nathaniel Shields?
His grandchildren through Marian include Michelle Obama and Craig Robinson. These two represent the next generation that carried the family values into wider public life.
What is the connection between Purnell Nathaniel Shields and Michelle Obama?
Purnell Nathaniel Shields is the maternal grandfather of Michelle Obama. His daughter Marian Lois Shields Robinson is Michelle’s mother. The lineage traces directly from his Chicago South Side home to the White House.
When and where did Purnell Nathaniel Shields pass away?
He died on July 30 1983 in Chicago Illinois from cardiac arrest. He was seventy two years old and is buried at Mount Glenwood Memory Gardens South in Glenwood Illinois.
