Memorial Services for Mrs. Shelby Jean Nolan, age 84 of Jemison, formally of Ashland, will be held on Saturday, September 17, 2022 at 3:00 P.M. at Benefield Funeral Home in Ashland. Her visitation will take place from 2:00 P.M. until service time at 3:00 P.M.
Shelby Jean Nolan passed away at 2 AM on Monday, September 5, 2022, after a long struggle with Parkinson’s disease. At the age of 16, Shelby met the love of her life, Joe Nolan. On their first date, he took her to see Elvis perform live at the Louisiana Hayride. After a year of courtship they married and spent a further 67 years building a beautiful life together. Shelby was an exceptional wife, mother and homemaker. She devoted her life to raising her children by providing a healthy & happy home. The love she had for her grand and great grandchildren was so grand, perhaps one to be recorded in the Guinness Book of World Records for deepest love. Shelby’s 5 grandchildren and 11 great grandchildren all agree, Granny deserves 1st place in the World’s Greatest G’mom Contest. Family always came first for her and she showed it daily in word and deed.
Shelby cared deeply for her community and especially for her church family at First Baptist Church of Ashland. She did this not out of obligation, but because of who she was. She was a Godly woman with a compassionate loving spirit. To know her was to love her. She was well-respected in her hometown and was like a second mother to many. She had a heart full of gratitude. Her happy place was the kitchen. Cooking was unquestionably one of her love languages. She regularly cooked for the church and community, and no one could resist her famous fried chicken and boiled cookies. Her menu was made from scratch and love. She enjoyed spending time with friends & family, antique shopping or as she liked to call it “yard sale-in”. Her home decorating was worthy of a Country Living Magazine spread. She established a family tradition of holiday decorating which has been carried on for two generations. She was greatly loved and she will be greatly missed. There will always be a Shelby shaped hole in our hearts. I imagine she had a grand welcoming party in Heaven.
Mrs. Nolan is survived by her husband of 67 years, Joe Nolan; her daughter, Karen Sue Mize, both of Jemison; her son, Doug Nolan (Michelle) of Tennessee; four grandchildren: Starr Gaither Kendrick (Fiance Gary Cone); Shaunda Mitchell (Ryan), Whitney Jones (Brandon), and Seth Nolan (Felicia); 11 grandchildren: Noah Grace Stafford, Rylan Mitchell, Braylon Stafford, Nolan Kendrick, Lincoln Mitchell, Claire Jones, Kyleigh Jones, Nolan Jones, Wells Nolan, Colton Jones and Aubrey Nolan; her sister, Nancy Tauton of Dubach, LA and a large extended family.
She was preceded in death by her parents: Emmett Leon and Ila Fatharee Hayden; one granddaughter, Sheree Gaither Rich; one sister, Lucille Holloway; and one brother, Emmett Hayden Jr.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Parkinson’s Foundation at the link below. Once on the site find and click the DONATE button.
