William O. "Bill" Shelton, Jr.

William Ottie "Bill" Shelton, Jr., resident of the Williston Community, retired Memphis Fireman and husband of Sandra Shelton, departed this life Thursday morning, October 2, 2014 at the Methodist University Hospital in Memphis where he had been a patient for two days. He was 72 years of age and died unexpectedly of natural causes.

Services of Remembrance for Mr. Shelton were conducted at 2 P.M. Saturday, October 4th at the Peebles West Funeral Chapel at Oakland with Dr. Kenneth Culver, pastor of the Warren Community Church, officiating. Interment followed in the Macon Cemetery in the Macon Community. Arrangements were provided by Peebles Fayette County Funeral Homes & Cremation Center - West Chapel at Oakland.

Mr. Shelton was born April 4, 1942 in Charleston, South Carolina. He was preceded in death by his parents, William Ottie Shelton, Sr. and Lillian Camp Shelton. He moved with his family at an early age to Memphis and received his education in the Memphis City Public School System and attended Memphis State University. He was employed with the Memphis Fire Department for 33 years before retiring as a Captain in 2004.

Mr. Shelton was married June 18, 1988 to the former Sandra Taylor Pounders, who survives. He was a member of the Macon United Methodist Church. He enjoyed woodworking, fishing, gardening, nature and photography. He enjoyed painting and will be remembered as a very gifted artist. Mr. Shelton lived every day as if it was his last.

In addition to his wife, Mr. Shelton is survived by his daughter, Amanda Kay "Mandy" Shelton of Ft. Worth, TX; two sons, William Ottie "Billy" Shelton, III (Shelley) of Ft. Worth, TX, Christopher Lynn "Chris" Shelton (Gina) of Ft. Worth, TX; his stepson, Jeff Pounders (Becky) of Oakland; two sisters, Dottie Shelton of Southaven, MS, Barbara Gossett of Memphis; and five grandchildren, Andrew Shelton, Jacob Shelton, Kyrie Shelton, Lyra Shelton and Sawyer Shelton.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his step-granddaughter, Isabella Grace Pounders.

Those honored to serve as casketbearers were Jimmy Stegall, Mickey Hartley, Randy Davis, J.C. Bryant, Larry Culver and Terry Dyer.

The family requests that memorials be directed to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital , P.O. Box 1000, Department 142, Memphis, TN 38148 or Macon Volunteer Fire Department, P.O. Box 1090, Somerville, TN 38068.