Leo Kendrick Shelton Jr.

Leo Kendrick Shelton, Jr., died on August 16, 2022, at age 92. Known as Kendrick to family and childhood friends, Leo was born on July 23, 1930 to Emmie Blue and Leo Kendrick Shelton, Sr. He grew up in Louisville, Georgia, the son of a linesman. 

After his father’s passing when Leo was only 12, he helped support his mother & sister by selling peanuts and delivering newspapers before school, on the bicycle he had motorized.  

Leo studied Electrical Engineering at Georgia Tech. While co-oping for the Georgia Power Company in Augusta, he met the girl next door, Mary Odom, whom he married two days after graduation in 1954. He then began a long fulfilling career in Savannah River Plant’s Power Department, while remaining a devout “Ramblin’ Wreck from Georgia Tech.”  

Leo and Mary were blessed with five children, who he liked to chat with every single day. He was a loving, supportive father, who coached Pony League baseball, oversaw math assignments, and ensured the family was very involved in First Baptist Church of North Augusta. As long as their children were in school, Leo & Mary each taught children’s Sunday School. He served as Sunday School Director, Chairman of the Trustees, and a Deacon consistently from age 27 to 92 years of age, often serving as the Chairman.  

Helping others was always vital to Leo. In addition to being a Gideon, he served in foreign, national, and local missions, including building a church in Tanzania, serving on national Disaster Relief Programs for flood victims, leading the North Augusta Community Ministry, as well as Laces 4 Love to ensure school kids had new shoes and socks. From his 70’s until he was 89, he organized a team of cronies to build hundreds of handicap ramps for disabled peoples’ homes and to provide house repairs for those in need. His contributions did not go unacknowledged, as he was awarded North Augusta’s 2013 Citizen of the Year. 

After Mary’s death, Leo went on to find love again and marry at the age of 85, Eulaween Marsh Self, who was also from Louisville. 

He is survived by his wife Eulaween, his children, Rebecca Tyson (Rick), George Shelton (Lynn) both of North Augusta, Drew Shelton (Carla) of Evans, GA, John Shelton (Carmen) of Denton, NC, and Maribeth Creech (David) of Mt. Pleasant, SC; fourteen grandchildren; and fourteen great- grandchildren.
Leo was preceded in death by his sister Frances Shelton Battle and beloved step-daughter, Sandra Self. 

A vivacious, loyal, and generous husband, father, brother, and friend, Leo fiercely loved his family, friends, church and community.  

His funeral service will be held at First Baptist Church of North Augusta on Saturday, August 20 at 2:30 PM with Leo’s dear friend, Dr. Randy Cooper, and Dr. Stephen Cutchins officiating. Interment will follow in Pineview Memorial Gardens.
The family will receive friends at the church on Saturday from 1:00 PM until 2:30 PM.

In lieu of flowers, please consider volunteering in your community or a donation to the Gideons International, PO Box 140800, Nashville, TN, 37214, or First Baptist Church of North Augusta, 625 Georgia Avenue, North Augusta, SC 29841.

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