Shameela Qureshi

Mrs. Shameela Qureshi (née Rumalshah), of Lawrenceville, GA, passed away peacefully on Sunday, January 17, 2016. Shameela was born in Narowal, India (now Pakistan) on March 21, 1939. She was the third child of an Anglican clergyman who was transferred often to various pastorates around the country. She spent her happy childhood in many areas of Pakistan, but was especially fond of her time in Quetta. Shameela graduated from Kinnaird High School for Girls in Lahore and continued to earn a B.A. degree from Kinnaird College for Women. She completed her first M.A. degree in English Literature from the Punjab University before moving to the United Kingdom in 1965, where she earned another M.A. degree in Applied Linguistics from the University of Manchester. In 1976, she married Jaffar Qureshi and later had one child. Shameela completed her teaching certification from the University of Cambridge. She spent over two decades teaching English as a Second Language in primary and secondary schools in London and Buckinghamshire. Whether teaching in English, Urdu, Punjabi, Hindi, or even some Farsi, Shameela’s compassion and commitment to improving her students’ lives surpassed the classroom; she empowered emigrant children and their parents as they learnt a new language and the customs of an unfamiliar land. After nearly 30 years of living in Britain, Shameela relocated with her family to the US, where she remained dedicated to education by working as a substitute teacher for Gwinnett County schools, Georgia. Shameela took joy and comfort from her unwavering Christian faith and her heart loved others without judgment. She found pleasure in being with her granddaughter, reading the Psalms, completing word jumbles, and discussing the etymology of names. She often listened to Indian classical music and the singers Lata Mangeshkar and Andy Williams. She enjoyed films by Hitchcock and had a fondness for actors Amitabh Bachchan and Gregory Peck (especially after having once shared a sandwich and conversation with the latter in Hyde Park). Shameela is survived by her daughter Mariam Qureshi, son-in-law Wesley Graham, only granddaughter Isolde Marlowe Graham, dear sisters Jamila Santram, Shakila Ghouri, Aqeela Ray, and Rohila Daniels, and younger brother, the Rt. Reverend Munawar Kenneth Rumalshah, as well as many nieces, nephews, and their families. Shameela particularly cherished her childhood friend Lily Singha and her son-in-law’s family, including Judy Graham, Mickel Graham, Danny Dunworth, Lin Callihan, Penny Graham, and Jo Sedlack. Shameela regarded her husband’s 11 siblings and their families with great affection, all of who respected and loved her dearly. She will be reunited in heaven with her husband Jaffar Qureshi, her father, the Venerable Inayat Rumalshah, her mother Akhtar, older brother Anwar Christopher, and nephew Ashraf Marcus Ray. A memorial service will take place on Monday, January 25, 2016, at 2 pm at Stone Mountain United Methodist Church, 5312 West Mountain Street, Stone Mountain, GA 30083. All are welcome to celebrate Shameela’s beautiful life with us. A private cremation will be held by Wages and Sons funeral home in Stone Mountain.