June 1, 2020

In the sure and certain hope of the resurrection, we commend the following servant to the everlasting care of God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit:

We mourn the death of Deaconess Laura Kay Shackelford. Ms. Shackelford died Saturday, May 30, 2020. We mourn her death, we celebrate her life, and we commend her into God’s loving care.

Kay was a lifelong Lutheran, a member of St. James Lutheran Church, Greeneville, TN, and a Deaconess in the ELCA.  She was also one of the co-founders of Appalachian Helping Hands - a Greeneville, TN, clothing closet founded in February 2004.  She was a Sunday School teacher, a member of Women of the ELCA, a leader of VBS, and a choir member.  

She is survived by three sons: Glenn A. Shackelford, II, Rev. Stephen P. Shackelford and wife Wanda of Roanoke, Virginia and Rev. Michael T. Shackelford and wife Carolyn of Spartanburg, South Carolina; grandchildren: Capt. Jonathan Shackelford in the U.S Army, Megan Shackelford of Hickory, North Carolina, and Nathan Shackelford of Spartanburg, South Carolina; Marlene Brown, lifelong friend; several cousins and numerous extended family.

Kay was preceded in death by her husband: Rev. Glenn A Shackelford, STM; her mother and father: Edith and Truman Neas.

The family will receive friends Thursday, June 4, from 12 – 1:30 pm at St. James Lutheran Church, 3205 St. James Road, Greeneville, Tennessee 37743. The funeral service will follow at 2 pm with Rev. Paula Smith officiating. Interment following the funeral service in the church cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent to:

Appalachian Helping Hands
3205 St. James Road
Greeneville, Tennessee 37743.

Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.kiserrosehillfuneralhome.com:

Kiser Rose Hill Funeral Home
125 Idletime Drive
Greeneville, TN, 37743
423-636-8007

Let us pray:

“O God of grace and glory, we remember before you today our sister, Kay. We thank you for giving her to us to know and to love as a companion in our pilgrimage on earth. In your boundless compassion, console us who mourn. Give us faith to see that death has been swallowed up in the victory of our Lord Jesus Christ, so that we may live in confidence and hope until, by your call, we are gathered to our heavenly home in the company of all your saints; through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord.”