Mary Magdalene Shrader Shelby, age 81, passed away on Saturday, November 26, 2016. She was born April 1, 1935, in Wannville, Alabama, and was the daughter of the late John Denzel and Jewel Brazelton Shrader. The oldest of three children, Mrs. Shelby is survived by her sister, Joyce Shrader Coffey; and her brother, John Denzel Shrader, Jr. Mrs. Shelby graduated from Stevenson High School in 1953 and from Florence State College, now the University of North Alabama, in 1958. Miss Shrader, as she was then known, came to Milton, Florida, in January 1958, to begin her teaching career at Milton High School. It was in Milton that she met and married Harold E. Shelby, Jr. Mrs. Shelby, in addition to being a busy wife and professional educator, was the mother of three children: Mary Melissa (Keith) Shelby Varnum, Harold E. (Elizabeth Wozniak) Shelby, III, and Ramona Carol Shelby. All three are college graduates and still living. Mrs. Shelby was also the grandmother of two, Melissa's and Keith's son, Steven Joseph Varnum and daughter, Elizabeth Carol Varnum, both presently college students. Mrs. Shelby was a member of long standing at the First United Methodist Church of Milton, Florida, where she had served most recently as Greeter on Sunday mornings. Mrs. Shelby took great joy in being one of the first welcoming and friendly faces that people saw when entering the church Sanctuary. She also took great pride in knowing each person she greeted by name and could be relied upon to remember individuals who would move away from Milton and then return to the area, sometimes years later. Mrs. Mary Shelby leaves behind a host of family and friends who will cherish and honor her memory as they reminisce with stories of her character, humor, integrity and personality. A memorial to celebrate Mary Shelby's life will be held at 9:00 a.m. at the First United Methodist Church in Milton, Florida, on Friday, December 2, 2016. Lewis Funeral Home, Milton, has been entrusted with local arrangements. Mrs. Shelby's remains will be interred at Barrancas National Cemetery, Naval Air Station Pensacola, Florida. In lieu of flowers, donations would be gratefully appreciated and used by First United Methodist Church's United Methodist Women's Scholarship Fund, or by Covenant Hospice of Pensacola, Florida (850.433.2155).