Joe Allen Shelton

Joe Shelton Obituary
CELEBRATION OF LIFE FOR JOE ALLEN SHELTON
(Joe's life story as told by his loving wife, Brenda)
September 11, 1947 – November 30, 2023
Joe Allen Shelton, known as: Bo-Bo, Bo, Mr. Joe, Daddy, Dadido, and Papa Joe, one of four siblings, was born September 11, 1947, in Angleton, Texas, to the late Jimmie Perry Shelton and Esther Dean Shelton. Because he was born undersized and asthmatic, Joe's paternal great grandmother, Capurnia Perry Dudley, insisted upon rearing him, as his parents were only 19 years of age. Joe's great grandmother and her husband, the Reverend Eddie Dudley, Joe's step great grandfather, raised him as their own. Mama Perry and Daddy Eddie, (his parents) as Joe affectionately called them, through prayer and personal sacrifice were able to nurture him, using home remedies, yet he suffered greatly from asthma until age 12; he missed so much school one year that he had to repeat a grade.
Joe was interested in sports and pleaded with his parents to allow him to participate. Being older parents, they were weary of him playing sports, fearing he was too small and that his body could not withstand the rigors of athletics. To appease him, his parents took him to Children's Hospital in Houston, Texas, where at a time when segregation was at an all-time high, God, through the aid of a caring doctor who was blind to skin color, miraculously cured Joe. From that day forward, Joe never had an asthma attack or any respiratory issues; he was able to excel in sports and live a full life without ever being hospitalized.
Joe was reared in a God-fearing home, where he was taught reverence to God, respect for his elders, courtesy and kindness, and the importance of prayer and sharing with the less fortunate. His community played a vital role in his upbringing. Any adult, even if not a relative, had the inherent right to chastise him. As such, he was never a child to get into trouble. He prided himself in this and often spoke of being proud that he raised his children to respect the laws and rules of those in authority, and that they had conducted themselves in a manner where he was never called to the schools because of their behavior and never had to go to the jails or courts because of their actions.
Joe accepted Christ as his personal Savior at an early age, was baptized, and united with the Saint Joseph United Methodist Church in Macbeth, Texas, where he served faithfully in all youth activities until he completed high school and left for college.
Joe was able to fulfill his dreams of playing sports. He started a regimen to build his body, and with the aid of his maternal uncle, Billy Dean, he developed his athletic skills. He was a star athlete at Marshall High School, where he excelled in track and field, running the 100-yard dash, taking the first leg in the 440-yard relay, and starred at running back on the football team.
Joe graduated from Angleton High School in 1967 and attended Bishop College in Dallas, Texas on a football scholarship. After completing his freshman year, he was drafted into the U.S. Army, and completed his basic training at Fort Hood, Texas. He was later stationed at Fort Huachuca, Arizona; Sattahip, Thailand; and Fort Stewart, Georgia where he was honorably discharged in 1970.
Joe moved to Rockville, Maryland, in 1970 where he was employed by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration until he began employment with the U.S. Postal Service in Rockville. While at the Post Office, Joe made many friends. He was a very humble, unassuming person who would go out of his way to assist others. He was a very hard worker and received many awards for his service of more than 40 years, retiring in 2015.
Although Joe left home after high school graduation and then would live and work in Maryland, he was committed to his childhood and parents' church. He attended Mt. Calvary Baptist Church with his family for years before he would eventually join. As a member of Mt. Calvary, his participation in ministry activities was not traditional, due to his irregular work schedule. Joe made contributions where he felt he could make the biggest impacts. When his wife Brenda, along with Adrienne Hatchett, started a ministry in1986 to purchase food, prepare and deliver Thanksgiving baskets to those in need, it was Joe and Adrienne's husband (Sherman) who provided much of the muscle needed to carry out this mission. He loved attending the Men's Retreats. On occasion, he assisted the Ushers, and upon retirement, diligently worked with the Thursday Food Distribution Ministry.
Many believe that ministries must be tied to a church organization, but Joe proved this to be untrue. He had his own personal ministry of caring and sharing. Even in his final days, Joe would visit seniors, running errands for them that included driving them to hair or medical appointments – or simply spending time with them. Every Sunday, he would pick up Ms. Ethel from her house and drive her to and from church.
Joe loved sports and believed the body must be fit for one to maximize performance. He was a fitness fanatic and would go to the gym several times daily. He was impressive as a weightlifter, and many young men sought his advice on how to get stronger and faster -- as well as develop their skills on the football field.
Joe began coaching youth football during his son's fourth grade year. He had not planned to coach, but after the first day of practice, the head coach could not help but realize that Joe (as a parent on the sidelines) knew way too much about football to not take advantage of his knowledge. Joe coached several more of his son's teams, and he continued coaching and advising for youth football programs for many years.
Over the years, many kids listened to what Joe had to say, and some will tell you they learned meaningful things from him that their high school and college coaches did not teach. Many of his proteges earned athletic scholarships, and some even made it into the professional ranks. He developed a network of professional athletes he would meet at the gym, the track, etc. who also took pointers from Joe. Many people were drawn to Joe because of his work ethic and his willingness to help others.
Joe was a die-hard Dallas Cowboys football fan. Win or lose, there was no team like his Dallas Cowboys. He coached many of their games from his recliner. When they lost, he was disappointed that they just couldn't hear him telling them what to do. He just loved the game and would give credit to any player who made spectacular plays, even if it was against his Boys. He enjoyed all sports and developed a science for flipping channels and simultaneously keeping up with multiple games. Joe also enjoyed reading the Bible, playing dominos, and completing word search puzzles.
Even off the field and out of the gym, Joe was a mentor to many young men over the years. He was always giving them advice and reminding young fathers to be careful of their actions because the eyes of their children were always upon them. He instructed young boys on how to carry themselves: shirt tails tucked in, belts worn with pants, firm handshakes, looking in the eyes of persons with whom you speak, opening doors for women and the elderly, etc.
Joe loved his family and was always singing praises about them to anyone who would listen. He enjoyed family reunions and other family gatherings that allowed family members to enjoy each other's company. Although he had only one sister (as his two other siblings died in infancy), and two nephews and two nieces, he always expressed joy in having gained 10 siblings through marriage who were so receptive of him. One of his greatest joys was hearing his wife's nieces and nephews call him, "Uncle Joe." He enjoyed listening to his wife and her siblings' endless conversations.
His wife, Brenda, son, Tyrone, daughter, Brykyta, daughter-in-law, Kimberley, grandson, Tyrone Lewis, granddaughter, Ashley, and great grandson, Theodore, were the apples of his eyes. He enjoyed trips to visit his son and his family, going on cruises, and traveling wherever his daughter planned.
On November 30, 2023, Joe sat packed and ready to go on one more of his daughter's planned flights -- to a celebration with family in Texas. Minutes before the planned time to depart for the airport, his wife and daughter discovered that God in His infinite wisdom had scheduled a different flight and flight time for Joe. God let Joe know that He had changed his flight reservation time and destination, and when God let him know, Joe stepped on board without hesitation. God granted Joe a full life and called him home without allowing him to suffer. Joe had faith in God and knew that He would always do what was best for him. Joe is at peace and his family is at peace knowing that he is free from the trials and tribulations of this world. He is safe in the arms of his Creator, resting from all cares.
In addition to his parents and birth parents, Joe was preceded in death by his sister, Lillie Kemp, nephew, LaGette Kemp, and Minnie Jayland Shelton, his youngest sister-in-law that he raised as a daughter.
Joe leaves to cherish his legacy of love, peace, caring, and service: his wife, Brenda; son, Tyrone (Kimberley), Newmarket, NH; daughter, Brykyta, Silver Spring, MD; grandson, Tyrone Lewis Shelton; granddaughter, Ashley Shelton; great grandson, Theodore Shelton; a devoted brother-in-law and sister-in-law, Edwin and Ethel Shelton; a devoted sister-in-law, Sandra Malone; two loving and devoted cousins, Pearline West Alford and Betty Seals: two nieces, Nikki Mwanga and Jennene Kemp; one great nephew, Jared Kemp; one great niece, Nina Mwanga; a devoted second son, Jonathan Grant (Micah) and his sons: Samuel, Jude, and Jonah, who recognized him as their grandfather, Papa Joe; Godchildren: Shawn Morris, Brittany Bryant-Newman, Justyce Battles, and Alivia Frier; four sisters-in-law: Tommie Jefferson, Beverly Roach, Phyllis Frier (Leon), and Vanessa Frier (Robert); one brother-in-law, Randy Shelton (Kelly); devoted friends: James and Betty Brown, John and Ernestine Davis, Edward (Jr.) Fleming, Adrienne Hatchett, Ethel Hersey, Ann Mullins, Tracey Mullins, Susan Peevy, and Les Sanders; and a host of nieces-in-law and nephews-in-law, cousins, church family and friends.
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