Lois Marye Shelton Pond of Wilson, NC, formerly of Crewe, VA, beloved wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, aunt, sister, and friend passed away peacefully in her home on February 9, 2024. She was 87. This world has lost a bright light that could only have come from Heaven. The angels are rejoicing that she has joined their ranks.
Marye was born on a tobacco farm in Halifax County, Virginia. Her education began in a two room schoolhouse to which she walked a mile and a half every morning and a mile and a half back every afternoon. She graduated from Halifax County (Virginia) High School in 1955 and was selected as one of only three graduates to apply for college. She attended Mars Hill College and Furman University and became a teacher. She did not originally aspire to be a teacher, but she felt that the only other real career choice for women at that time was nursing, and she really did not want to do that. She wanted even less to return to the tobacco fields. She ended up educating and being a role model to hundreds of children and continued to teach until the early 1980’s.
She was always drawn to children and young people and they were drawn to her. She will be remembered for her volunteer service to the youth of Crewe Baptist Church. She served as Sunday School Director, Sunday School teacher, Bible School Greeter, and as a Youth Leader. She chaperoned many youth to camps and conferences at Eagle Eyrie Conference Center. She also welcomed many young people into her home as their mentor and trusted friend. For years she provided breakfast and devotions every Wednesday morning to a group of teenagers. Those young people would never forget her homemade sausage biscuits nor the love and guidance she freely offered them.
Marye was the beloved center of her family. She loved nurturing her grandsons and seeing the family grow. Although she was sorely missed by her friends in Crewe when she moved to Wilson in 2018, the joy of her later years was loving her great-grandchildren.
Marye’s unshakable faith in God was with her through her many joys and sorrows, such as the tragic loss of her daughter Mary Jane to skin cancer, and every day in between.
Marye never met a stranger. She made connections quickly and deeply. She had so much love to give and so many lives were enriched by her wisdom and kindness. From her six younger cousins in her youth, to her many students, to her “young people” from everywhere, to her church family, to those she touched during her last days, she never stopped inspiring everyone she met. Her love and mentoring have spread and will continue to spread across time, place, and generations.
Marye was preceded in death by her husband Franklin Delano Pond, her daughter Mary Jane Pond, her parents Sidnor James Shelton and Lois Cole Shelton, her brother Weldon DeShazo Shelton, and her sister-in-law Karen Stanford Shelton.
She is survived by her daughter Ann Pond Lupton (Michael), her three grandsons, John Lupton (Kelly), James Lupton (Kristin), and Robert Lupton (Hollie), and great-grandchildren Bradley Dean, Natalie Mae, Rhea Jane, Ira Jackson, and namesake Sierra Marye. She is also survived by her son-in-law Joe Hoffman (Dominique); nephews John Shelton (Dawn) and David Shelton (Christina); nephews Danny Pond (Laura), Charlie Pond (Connie), niece Jeanne Pond Davison (Jimmy), and great-niece Heather Dick (Ryan); niece Gloria Dooley (Tee); Sherry Dyke Gardiner and namesake Kathryn Marye Gardiner, and other precious family members and friends.
The family will receive visitors on Thursday, February 15 at 1:00 p.m. at Crewe Baptist Church, 404 East Virginia Avenue, Crewe, Virginia. A service of remembrance will follow at 2:00 p.m.
The family wishes to express special gratitude to Sherry Gardiner for her loving care of Marye and the entire family. In lieu of flowers, Marye’s family asks that donations be made to Friends of Crewe Library, 414 Tyler Street, Crewe, VA 23930, or to a charity of your choice. Online condolences may be directed to https://www.dignitymemorial.com/obituaries/wilson-nc/marye-pond-11662534 . Arrangements are entrusted to Thomas-Yelverton Funeral Service in Wilson, North Carolina.
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