Ruby Helen Taylor Shelley passed away peacefully on Wednesday, April 29th in her home. Born on June 24, 1935, in Whiteville, NC, she was the daughter of the late Harley James and Helen Winn Singletary Taylor. She was also a 1954 graduate of Tabor City High School.
Mrs. Shelley served her community for many years with her work WTAB radio station and the Tabor City Chamber of Commerce where she worked relentlessly on the NC Yam Festival for many years and was given the honor of serving as the Yam Festival Parade Grand Marshall in 2023. She was a homemaker and chauffeur for her three children when they were young but reentered the workforce after they all began attending school. She was employed for many years at the Waccamaw Lumber Company early on and then later at the AAA Bumper Company, WTAB radio station, the Tabor City Chamber of Commerce, Columbus County Water Department and she retired in 2020 as the Director of the Chadbourn Senior Center. She was an active member of the Tabor City Baptist Church serving in numerous roles and attended religiously until recently when her health declined.
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, O’Neal Gordon Shelley, a sister Sue Taylor Lay, a brother Henry James Taylor, and brothers-in-law, Samuel Porcher “Shay” Smith, Jr. and Keith Gordon Lay, Sr.
She is survived by her two sons, Jimmy Neal Shelley and wife, Mary Kay of Cary, NC; Walter Brooks Shelley and husband Billy Maddalon of Charlotte, NC; one daughter, Anna Winn Shelley Beaman and husband, Jack of Snow Hill, NC; three grandchildren, Shelley Albritton(Thomas), Neal and Kyle Shelley along with 6 great grandchildren, a sister Peggy Smith of Tabor City, several nieces and nephews, and her special caregiver, Angela Green.
The family extends a special thanks to all of the Lower Cape Fear Life Care nurses and social workers who provided such great care to Mrs. Shelley during her final months.
Visitation will be held Sunday, May 3, 2026, from 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM in the Inman Ward Funeral Home Chapel.
Funeral services will be held Monday, May 4, 2026, at 1:00 PM in the Tabor City Baptist Church with burial to follow in the Forest Lawn Cemetery.
A service of Inman Ward Funeral Home & Crematory of Tabor City, NC.
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