Louis C. Shell

SHELL, Louis C., of Petersburg, died Friday, August 14, 2009. He was born December 8, 1925 the son of the late Roger L. and Susie Hill Shell of Dinwiddie County, and the grandson of the late Judge Richard Cabell Shell of Dinwiddie. Mr. Shell was a graduate of Dinwiddie High School and a graduate of the University of Virginia where he received his Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Law degrees. He began his practice of law in Petersburg in 1947. For nearly fifty years he was a member of the law firm of White, Hamilton, Wyche and Shell, P.C., formerly White, Hamilton, Wyche, Shell and Pollard. At the time of his death, he was retired from the law firm of Shell, Johnson, Andrews and Baskervill, P.C. Mr. Shell was a Fellow in the American College of Trial Lawyers, having been inducted in 1974. He was also a Fellow in the Virginia Law Foundation, served on the Council of the Virginia State Bar, was past president of the Petersburg Bar Association and for many years was a member of the American Bar Association. He also served on numerous boards of religious and charitable organizations. In 1956, the Junior Chamber of Commerce named him Petersburg's Outstanding Young Man for his civic and charitable activities. He was a member of the Kiwanis Club of Petersburg for sixty years. Mr. Shell was active in governmental and political affairs. He served on the City Council of the City of Petersburg and as Vice-Mayor. He managed the local area campaigns for several candidates for statewide office. He was also Chairman of the Bi-Racial Committee for the City of Petersburg during the 1960s. He was a charter member of St. Mark's United Methodist Church. He was active in the building of the church and was the first Chairman of its Board of Stewards, continuing to serve as Chairman of the Trustees until his death. He was also a former Trustee of the Petersburg District of the United Methodist Church. Mr. Shell is survived by his wife of 59 years, Barbara Pamplin Shell; his daughters, Pamela S. Baskervill and her husband, Charles T. Baskervill, and Patricia S. Caulkins and her husband, David W. Caulkins; his grandchildren, Ann Cabell Baskervill, Susannah B. Pittman and her husband, Lonnie Pittman, Sarah Caulkins-Zuk and her husband, Michael Zuk, and Whitney C. Caulkins; and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins. The family will receive friends Monday, August 17, from 6 to 8 p.m. at St. Mark's United Methodist Church. The funeral service will be held on Tuesday, August 18, 2 p.m. at St. Mark's United Methodist Church with Rev. Gretchen S. Nelson, Pastor, and Rev. Lonnie Pittman, Associate Pastor of First Dothan United Methodist Church, Dothan, Alabama, officiating. Immediately following the service, the family will receive visitors in Goodrich Fellowship Hall. Burial in Blandford Cemetery will take place at 5 p.m. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorial contributions be made to St. Mark's United Methodist Church, 225 Claremont Street, Petersburg, Va. 23805 or Crater Community Hospice, 3916 South Crater Road, Petersburg, Va. 23805. The family is being served by the Petersburg Chapel of J.T. Morriss & Son Funeral Home & Cremation Service where condolences can be registered at www.jtmorris.com.


This obituary was originally published in the Richmond Times-Dispatch.