Shelby Williams Sewell

Shelby Williams Sewell

Shelby Williams Sewell, age 78, went home to be with her Lord and Savior on September 3, 2016. Born in Yadkin County on December 20, l937, she was the daughter of Clifford Paul and Grace Robbins Williams of Yadkin County, N.C. She attended and graduated from Yadkinville High School. At High Point College, Shelby, the head cheerleader, met the love of her life Danny Sewell, an All-American basketball player. After graduation, they were married in l960 and were devoted to each other for 56 years until her death. She was a committed teacher for 46 years, spending most of her career as a kindergarten teacher at Rocky Mount Academy. Teaching at schools in High Point, Cheraw, S.C., and Rocky Mount, she touched the lives of thousands of children, many of whom regard her as one of their very favorite teachers. After retiring from Rocky Mount Academy in 2011, she continued to work as a substitute teacher. She was active in Baptist churches wherever she lived, and has served her Lord faithfully as a devoted member of First Baptist Church in Rocky Mount for 42 years. She used her gifts of teaching children to love and honor Jesus by teaching Sunday school, Bible School, and doing mission work. She devoted her whole life to loving and praying for her family and being a role model for others. She lived on Sewell Lake in a log cabin and daily spent many hours on the porch swing praying for her children and grandchildren, her friends, her church, and the world. She had no greater joy than to know that someone would accept Jesus and have abundant life in Him. She loved to entertain, and would invite friends and family to enjoy the lake on many occasions. She held fast to the scripture in Galatians 6:10 to "take every opportunity to do good for others, especially those of the household of faith."

Shelby leaves behind to cherish her memory, her brother Tom Williams and wife Deanna of Winston Salem, her son Joey and wife, Tanya of Myrtle Beach, her daughter Pam Valentine, Larry Valentine, of Charlotte and Jenni Johnson and husband Jeff of Dunn, N.C. She is survived by her seven grandchildren, Gracyn, Wynn, and Chloe Johnson, Alex and Daniel Valentine, Zach and Zoe Sewell. In her well-read Bible, she noted that her calling was to love the scripture "so the next generation might know themand they will in turn teach their own children." Ps. 78:6

The Celebration of Life service will be Sunday, September 11 at 1:00 pm at First Baptist Church, 200 S. Church Street, Rocky Mount, NC 27801. Visitation will be held in the Fellowship Hall at First Baptist Church following the Celebration of Life. All who loved and knew her are invited to attend. In lieu of flowers, she requested that donations be made to the children's ministry at First Baptist Church, Rocky Mount.

Arrangements are by Heritage Oaks Funeral & Cremation Service, 3240 Zebulon Rd, Rocky Mount, NC 27804, 252-451-4000. www.heritageoaksfcs.com.

As published in the Rocky Mount Telegram