Dalbert Lee Shelby was born on September 26, 1960 to the union of Robert Lee and LaDonna “Pie” Cheeves Shelby of Detroit, Michigan. Together they had three boys with Dalbert being the middle child. He was educated in the Detroit Public Schools system and graduated from Cass Technical High School in 1978. He went on to attend Wayne State University.

After briefly residing in Longview, Texas, Dalbert made his way to New Jersey to continue his career in the mortgage industry. He worked with Shirley “Deedee” who introduced him to her sister. Dalbert and his former wife Dana quickly became friends, then started dating. When Dalbert met her middle child Allen, he said at the young age of four, "You're going to be my daddy one day!" — and God made it so. Dalbert, Dana and their three children, Corey, Allen and Danielle, spent the majority of the next 10 years in Plainfield, New Jersey at their Park Place address. That was until the blizzard of '96 when Dalbert said "Enough of this!” and they relocated to sunny south Florida. He was certainly over the grueling winters.

Now taking his talents to the South, Dalbert continued working in the banking and mortgage industry at Bank Atlantic, and later at ABN AMRO. A foodie at heart, he found a passion for introducing friends, family and colleagues to Bimini Boatyard, Jungle Queen, and Aruba’s — the restaurant, not the island. Beyond his search for great food, he searched for a church home — leading his family to Solid Rock (New Generation Ministries) where he later became assistant pastor. In 2000, Corey, Jr. was born — his first of four grandchildren who lovingly called him Pop Pop. Dalbert, being a car enthusiast and jewelry aficionado, took great pleasure in gifting each grandchild with their first pair of wheels — Power Wheels that is — and fine jewelry.

Dalbert was gregarious and naturally blessed with the gift of gab. He coined many sayings with a distinct tone, sense of joy and consistent delivery. He was loving, caring and compassionate, and had the superpower to keep in touch with so many. A social butterfly who made fast friends who became his chosen family. He was a curator of meaningful time — famous for frequent check-ins, surprise visits, and quick ‘turn and burn’ trips. He had a great gift of making people feel welcomed, validated and loved.

Dalbert and his “Sunshine”  Vincent Daniels moved to Kentucky in April of 2015. Kentucky was a central point between family members in different states. No stranger to road-trips, they made frequent drives to Detroit and beyond — traveling for both love and leisure. These two were inseparable and married on June 18, 2020. Their neighbors and coworkers are not merely friends and people they work with, but instantly became family. Family that shared countless memories, good food, great times and don’t forget, a good cocktail. Dalbert worked at First Commonwealth Mortgage where he continued to passionately help families purchase homes and build legacies for generations to come. He had a masterplan to bridge the gap between under-served communities and affordable housing.

On February 17, 2023, Dalbert was unexpectedly called home. He was greeted at the gates, with open arms, by his parents Robert and LaDonna Shelby, his sister Gloria Jean Shelby and his brothers Dwain Shelby and Roderick Shelby. He is survived by many loving family members, including his husband Vincent, sons Corey (Anesia) and Allen (Krystal), daughter Danielle and bonus daughter Anqueyette (Raymond), his grandchildren Corey, Jr., Amelia, Alana and Elle, his sister Robbie (Elex) and his two sisters-in-law, Karen Shelby and Michelle Shelby. Dalbert also leaves many others to celebrate his life, including several aunts, uncles, cousins, adoring nieces and nephews, and an endless amount of loving friends.

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