Vera Mae (Thompson) Shelby

Vera Mae Thompson Shelby, longtime resident of the Somerville Community, one of Fayette County’s oldest citizens and wife of the late Leland Shelby, Sr., departed this life Wednesday morning, April 23, 2014 at the National HealthCare Center in Somerville where she resided for one year and four months. She was 107 years of age.

Services of Remembrance for Mrs. Shelby were conducted at 2 P.M. Saturday, April 26th at the Peebles Main Funeral Chapel in Somerville with Bro. Don Hammons, pastor of the Mt. Olive Baptist Church in District 15, officiating. He was assisted by Warren Adams, administrator of the National HealthCare Center in Somerville. Interment followed in the Mt. Olive Cemetery in the District 15 Community. Arrangements were provided by Peebles Fayette County Funeral Homes and Cremation Center — Main Chapel of Somerville.

Mrs. Shelby was born on August 3, 1906 in Rienzi, Mississippi. She moved at an early age with her parents to Fayette County and was preceded in death by her mother and father, John R. Thompson and Nancy Hix Thompson. She resided in the Somerville area for most of her life and was a longtime member of the Mt. Olive Baptist Church. Mrs. Shelby was married July 25, 1925 to Mr. William Leland Shelby, Sr., retired employee of the Fayette County Board of Education, who preceded her in death on December 14, 1977.

Mrs. Shelby was a homemaker and was blessed with a long, fruitful, productive life. She remained mentally alert until her death and was devoted to her husband, children and many family members that she outlived during her 107 years.

Mrs. Shelby is survived by two sons, Thomas Adrian Shelby (Louise) of Olive Branch, MS, Billy C. Shelby (Wanda) of Bolivar; her daughter-in-law, Louise Moody Shelby of Oakland; eight grandchildren, Robert Huddleston, Linda Joyce Gardner, Loyce Scott, Virginia Ann Bobbitt, Bobby Joe Shelby, Tammy Turner, Kerri Rainey, Melinda Shelby; numerous great-grandchildren, great-great grandchildren and great-great-great grandchildren.

In addition to her husband and parents, she was preceded in death by three sons, William L. Shelby, Jr., Mitchell Gaylon Shelby, Charles Wayne Shelby; her daughter, Sarah Maxine Huddleston; and her granddaughter, Renee Shelby.

Those honored to serve as casketbearers will be Bobby Joe Shelby, Brad Turner, Mark Turner, Jacob Shelby, Robert Huddleston, Jeffrey Rainey, Logan Strickland, Ed Denniston, Wayne Thomas and Charles (Bubba) Bobbitt.

The family requests that memorials be directed to the Mt. Olive Cemetery Association, c/o Emily Joyce Douglas, 514 Oak Street, Somerville, TN 38068.