Shelley E. Roundtree

Shelley Edleen Holmes Roundtree, 73, of Vauxhall, NJ, passed away peacefully on September 6, 2025. Shelley was born on July 7, 1952, in Montclair, NJ, to Leon Holmes and Margaret (Flippen) Holmes. She grew up alongside her sister, Marcia Lennard, who preceded her in death in 2004.
Shelley graduated from Montclair High School in 1970 and was admitted early to Douglass College, the women's residential college of Rutgers University, where she earned her degree in 1974.
Over the years, Shelley worked in a wide variety of roles that reflected her intelligence, empathy, and resilience. She served as a substance abuse counselor, worked as a claims examiner in the insurance field, and eventually found her calling as a social worker at East Jersey State Prison, where she served faithfully until her retirement in 2016.
Shelley married Vinnie Roundtree in May of 1974, and though their marriage was brief, it brought her a daughter, Tanya Roundtree. The greatest joy of Shelley's life was being a grandmother. She especially cherished her grandson, Michael Anthony Roundtree, who was her pride and delight, along with her granddaughter, Talytha Grace Martinez, who also brought her much happiness.
A hard worker all her life, Shelley did whatever she could for family members who had no one else to rely on, often caring for her elder aunts by cleaning their homes and doing their grocery shopping.
She loved quiet time and found peace at the beach, even if she didn't visit as often as she wanted. She cherished the memory of her grandmothers throughout her life, holding them close in her heart until the very end. Always with her video camera in hand, Shelley documented the lives of those she loved, creating treasured recordings that remain a testament to her care and devotion.
She was also a gifted writer who loved poetry, using words as her canvas to express both the struggles and the beauty she saw in the world. Her poems reflected her creativity, resilience, and inner strength.
Shelley is survived by her daughter, Tanya; her grandchildren, Michael and Talytha; her nieces, Anne Staton and Lynne Williams; and many cousins and extended family who will miss her dearly.
Shelley will be remembered as strong, wise, and deeply loving - a woman who endured life's challenges with grace, humor, and determination. Her legacy is one of resilience and hope, and she leaves behind a family who will honor her by living with that same spirit.