Hilda Grace Freeman Shackleford

Who can find a virtuous woman? She is worth farm more than rubies. Her husband has full confidence in her and lacks nothing of value. She brings him good, not harm, all the days of her life. She selects wool and flax and works with eager hands. She gets up while it is till night; she provides food for her family. Honor her for all that her hand have done, and let her works bring her praise at the city gate. Proverbs 31

KINSTON - Ms. Hilda Shackleford, 87, of 4637 Cindy Lane Apt. D, passed away on Friday, October 27, 2017 at UNC Lenoir Health Care.

A tree is know by the fruit it bears. Hilda Grace Freeman Shackleford lived a full and fruitful life. She was born in Lenoir County on April 25, 1930 to Willie Henry Freeman and Laura Elizabeth Willis. On October 27, 2017, surrounded by her family, she left this earthly dwelling and through time and space her soul soared into Eternity. "For we know that if our earthly house, this tent, is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens" (2 Corinthians 5:1)

Hilda attended the Lenoir County Public School System. In 1952 she married the late Daniel Shackleford. She retired from Lenoir Memorial Hospital in 1989. Hilda was an avid sports fan and a political analyst in her own right. She enjoyed watching political news and could debate her side of the issue with conviction. She understood through demonstration the word of God instructing us "to love thy neighbor as thyself." Her life was guided by the lyrics form the old gospel song, "if I can help somebody, as I pass along, if I can cheer somebody with a word or gospel song, if I can show somebody, how they're traveling wrong, then my living shall not be in vain."

Hilda was preceded in death by two sons, Alfonso Freeman and Charles Edward Shackleford. She leaves to cherish her memories four loving sons, Curtis Shackleford (Lind) of Decatur, Ga., Bobby Shackleford of Newark, NJ, Douglass Shackleford and Michael Shackleford (Dessie) of Kinston, NC; four dedicated daughters, Carolyn freeman Randolph of Tampa, FL, Patricia Nobles (Larry) of Kinston, NC, Angela Williams (Rudy) of Greenville, NC, Sharron Moten (Terry) of Kinston, NC; two sisters-in-law, Mary Alice Davis and Corina Shackleford of Kinston, NC; a host of grandchildren, great-grandchildren, nieces, nephews, supportive niece Eldress Ruth Lynch; and special friend and neighbor, Linda Gaskins.

Funeral services will be held Thursday, November 2, 2017 at 11 a.m. at Greater Mt Zion Church. Burial will take place in the Pinelawn Memorial Park. A public visitation will be held on Wednesday, November 1, 2017 from 4-7 p.m. from the Robert Swinson, Jr. Memorial Chapel. Arrangements are by R. Swinson Funeral Service. Sign the guest book at kinston.com