Laval Howard Short Sr., born July 15, 1936, in Nashville, Tennessee. He was the first-born child to Council Short and Myrtle Bailey Short, both deceased. His siblings include brothers Cedric Short Sr. and Lorenzo Short Sr., and sisters Rita Short (deceased) Cassanova Short (deceased), Marion Thompson, Janice Lipscomb, Lentoria Parker and Colotta Johnson.

Laval played the saxophone and worked as a waiter and golf caddie at Bell Meade Country Club in Nashville, Tn. This experience sparked a lifelong love of the game of golf. He also had the gift of gab and received the “most talkative” award in high school.

Laval Short Sr. received his education from Pearl High School in Nashville, Tennessee, and attended Tennessee State University and University of Colorado, where he received his Bachelor of Arts in Sociology.

He served his country in the United States Army from 1958 to 1961. He was a SP4 Military Police and was stationed at the Rocky Mountain Arsenal in Commerce City, Colorado.

Laval has a daughter Valarie Harris of Nashville, Tennessee. He later married Cyntia Ann Lee Harris Short. They met in Nashville, Tn. and married on June 13, 1958. From this marriage they had Laval Howard Short Jr and Marva Short. He has one grandchild, Elijah Short.

He was a member of Cleaves Memorial CME church in 1961 and later joined St. Lukes CME church. He served as a deacon at both churches and a member of the A.C. Redd club.

He worked for the United States Postal Service in various roles including an EEOC specialist and retired with over 20 years of service.

In his free time Laval enjoyed playing and watching golf, traveling with his family, and reading and studying history. He also enjoyed listening to his collection of jazz records.

His best friends included John Harding, Dr. Cecil and Lucille Glenn, and Joe and Amelia Lawrence. He will best be remembered by his friends for his Summertime grilling in the backyard, particularly brisket.

Laval passed away on November 17, 2023, at Rose Memorial Hospital in Denver, Colorado.

He is survived by his wife Cyntia Short, son Laval Short Jr. daughters Valerie Harris and Marva Short, brothers Cedric Short Sr (Sadie), Lorenzo Short, sisters Marion Thompson, Janice Lipscomb, Lentoria Parker, and Colotta Johnson and a host of nieces and nephews.

One of his favorite phrases was “…well that monkey ate those red peppers”, which just means that if you get hungry enough you will eat anything. He enjoyed tending to his roses in the yard.

Laval will be remembered for encouraging education in young people and mentoring several people in their professional careers.