Mary Steele McKee Shelton

Mrs. Mary Steele McKee Shelton, 88 went to be with the Lord on August 24, 2006. Mrs. Shelton was born November 28, 1917 in Decatur, Georgia to the late Arthur Lovic McKee and the late Mattie Lucinda Tilly McKee. She graduated from Southwest Dekalb High School in Decatur, Georgia. After her family moved from Decatur to the town of Smarrs, she attended and graduated from Bessie Tift College in Forsyth County, Georgia. Later while a Public Educator, she obtained a Masters in Arts Degree from Scarritt College for Christian Workers in Nashville, Tennessee. Mrs. Shelton married the late Hosea McCall Fleming in Woodbine, Georgia on June 9, 1939. He served in the United States Navy as Seaman, Second Class and was aboard the eight-crew freighter "The Millinocket" when it was torpedoed by a German U-Boat on June 17, 1942. The entire crew was lost at sea, and Seaman Hosea Fleming was awarded a Purple Heart. Even though she had a two-year old daughter, Ouida Rose Fleming, Mrs. Shelton pursued a career in teaching and taught for several years. She married the late Rev. Ray Ellis Shelton on May 7, 1948. He graduated from Berry College and then continued his studies, graduating from the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, thanks to GI Bill. During that time he also served as pastor of Tracy City Baptist Church, Tracy City, Tennessee. In 1949, Rev. and Mrs. Ray Shelton were appointed missionaries to Uruguay by the Foreign Mission Board (now International Mission Board) of the Southern Baptist Convention. For thirty-seven years, they served as missionaries to Uruguay until their retirement in 1986. As well as planting and serving churches throughout the interior of Uruguay, they led the Escuela Evangelica Bautista, an influential Christian Elementary School in the town of Conchillas. Mrs. Shelton was homemaker, Bible teacher, Women's Missionary Union leader, Sunday School teacher, and Youth leader. Upon retirement, Mrs. Shelton moved with her husband to Americus, Georgia to work with the growing number of Spanish-speaking migrants. At the many migrant camps, they would distribute Christian literature, clothes, personal care packages, and food, as well as provide transportation for personal or medical reasons. While in Americus, Mrs. Shelton was active in community organizations including her work with international students at Southwest Georgia University and participated in the Garden Clubs of Georgia, serving as President for several years. She continued to speak in churches and children's camps throughout South Georgia. In 2000, she moved to Cordele, Georgia to live near family, and then again in July, 2006 to Mount Airy, North Carolina. Throughout the moves, she remained active, teaching Sunday School and as a popular speaker, She was an avid story-teller, and had an incredible memory. She enjoyed working with flowers, especially cacti and succulents, as well as native varieties and their cultivation. Mrs. Shelton is survived by five children, Ouida Rose Fleming English of El Paso, Texas, Chrispian Ellis Shelton and his wife Ellen Herman, of Minneapolis, and Paul Leslie Shelton and his wife Laura Jo Owens Shelton, missionaries of Mendoza, Argentina. Lucinda Ann Shelton Lyons and her husband Rev. Dr. Victor Sam Lyons of Mount Airy, North Carolina, and Rev. Miriam Ray Shelton of New York City, She is also survived by eight grandchildren, Corbitt Ellis Shelton of New York City, Timothy Hughes Shelton a student at Union College, and Stephany Imogene Shelton of Minneapolis, Joshua Thomas Shelton and his wife Sarah Ortiz Shelton of Seguin, Texas, Andrew Jonathan Shelton, and Rebekah Jolie Shelton, both of Waco, Texas, and Victor Ray Lyons and his wife Courtney Ann Lyons of Waco, Texas, and Mary Pauline Abigail Lyons Gottwals and her husband Shane Charles Gottwals of Warner Robins, Georgia. She is also survived by one brother, Arthur Lovic McKee and his wife Estelle Stoff McKee of Littleton, Colorado, and sister-in-law Sara Goen McKee of Decantur, Georgia, twelve nieces, three nephews, twenty-nine grandnieces and nephews, and a large number of cousins. In addition to her parents, Mrs. Shelton was preceded in death by her first husband Hosea McCall Fleming in 1942, her second husband Ray Ellis Shelton in 1993, and her sister Elizabeth McKee Hinshaw in May 22, and her brother Robert Aticus McKee in July 29 both in the current year. The family wishes to thank Dr. Catalin Burciu, Dr. Roland Barrett, Meals-on-Wheels, Mountain Valley Hospice, and the care givers for the care provided to their mother during her illness. The funeral service will be conducted Sunday, August 27, 2006 at 3:00 PM at Fellowship Missionary Baptist Church in Mount Airy by Rev. Jimmie Durr Spann and Dr. Victor Lyons. The family will receive friends from 6 to 8:30 p.m. on Saturday, August 26, 2006 at Fellowship Missionary Baptist Church. A graveside service will be held on Monday, August 28, 2006 at Masters Cemetery in Ellenwood, Georgia. The service will be conducted by Rev. Donald Howell, Rev. Marion Beaver and Rev. Hugh McKee. Flowers may be accepted or memorials may be made to Mountain Valley Hospice and Palliative Care, 401 Technology Lane, Suite 200, Mount Airy, North Carolina 27030 or to Fellowship Missionary Baptist Church Building Fund, 922 Banner Street, Mount Airy, North Carolina 27030 or to a charity of the donor's choice. The funeral arrangements were entrusted to Moody Funeral Services, Inc. in Mount Airy, North Carolina and Horis A. Ward Funeral Home in Stockbridge, Georgia. Online condolences may be made at www.moodyfuneralservices.com