Ellen Jane Rice Shaw

Ellen Jane Rice Shaw, 85, passed away on Friday, October 10, 2025, at Gibson House in Reidsville.

Funeral services will be held at 3:00PM on Sunday, October 19, 2025 at Bethesda Presbyterian Church. Burial will immediately follow the service at the church cemetery. The family will receive friends one hour prior to service from 2:00-3:00PM

Ellen was born on July 6, 1940, to the late Loyd and Luella Rice and was the youngest of four children. She graduated from Cobb Memorial School in 1958 and worked with her parents on their tobacco farm. Ellen got married in 1966 to the love of her life, Frank. While her husband was in the United States Airforce, she moved all over the country, and overseas, with him as a proud military wife. Together they started a family and raised two children and eventually moved back home to Caswell County. Ellen was a devoted and loving homemaker until 1988 when she began her career. She worked at Piedmont Community College in the Human Resources Development Department until she retired in 2003 so that she could help raise her new granddaughter.

Ellen loved taking care of her granddaughter, Ava, whom she adored. She also loved her many cats and her faithful dog, Lucky. Ellen was known for being an independent and strong person who was a “go-getter” and fearless. She was also very kind and would do anything to help and take care of her family.

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Frank Shaw; brother, Herbert Rice; sisters, Mary Alice Griggs and Virginia Rice Geller; son-in-law, David Cox.

Ellen is survived by her children, Patrick Aaron Shaw and Susan Shaw Cox; granddaughter, Ava Jade Cox; niece, Phyllis Shaffer; nephews, Steve Griggs (Debra), and Arch Griggs (Vanessa); in addition to numerous other extended family members.

In lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be made in honor to the Alzheimer’s Association, https://www.alz.org/.