Dear Friends,

It is with a tremendously heavy heart that I must announce to you that Pretty Bird Woman House's first director, Georgia Little Shield, whose dedication to getting it off the ground is responsible for the shelter's existence today, died on Tuesday.

If it weren't for Georgia's stubborn dedication to Pretty Bird Woman House, which meant doing a lot of work with crazy Netroots bloggers like me, the shelter would not exist right now. Seriously.

We raised enough money under Georgia's guidance to buy the building housing the shelter today. She was an excellent director, but unfortunately health concerns forced her to retire early.

Never one to sit around knowing she could help her community, Georgia formed a non-profit food pantry and future youth development program on the Cheyenne River Reservation last year, Okiciyap (we help) the Isabel Community. Again, with the help of bloggers, who were inspired by her fierce dedication to her community, we raised enough money to get a trailer that the Tribe had donated into place, skirt it, build a wheelchair ramp, and get a couple of deliveries of food to distribute. Over 100 families were helped within the past couple of months. That is Georgia's legacy to her community.

Georgia's other legacy was her love for her family.  A couple of years ago she adopted two of her husband's neices after their mother died.  Georgia was very proud of the youngest one Crystal, who lived with them. She was also always talking about her daughter and grandchildren and how much she loved to babysit them. They had also lived with her and her husband Norman for a while.

We mourn the loss of a great community leader, and just a really nice person.

Georgia you have left a tremendous legacy here between the shelter and the food pantry. Your family and friends remember your kindness and wonderful heart.

God bless you. Rest in Peace. You made a big difference in this world.

Funeral services will be held Saturday in Isabel, SD