A Graveside Service for Shelia Anne Arnold, 81, will be on Sunday, October 5, 2025 at 1:00 p.m. at Blue Springs Baptist Church Cemetery, 385 Blue Springs Rd. Somerville (Florette), AL. A church worship service will precede the Graveside Service at 11 a.m.
Ms. Arnold died on Thursday, September 25, 2025 at her residence at Presbyterian Towers in Decatur, AL following a battle with cancer.
Ms. Arnold was born at Knight Sanitorium in Roanoke, AL on June 9, 1944. As a “U.S. Army Brat,” she grew up and lived at numerous places including: Columbus (Fort Benning), GA; Olympia (Fort Lewis), WA; Monterey (Fort Ord), CA; Lawton (Fort Sill), OK; and Hickory Flat and Alpine, AL while her father was stationed or deployed abroad during World War 2 and the Korean War.
After graduating Winterboro High School, she trained as a Flight Attendant in Minneapolis, MN then became a shoe and draperies salesperson at J.C. Penny. She was a homemaker for over 20 years and lived in a number of places including: Augusta, GA; Columbus, GA; Merritt Island, FL; Fairfax, VA; Burke, VA; Fort Washington, MD; and Arlington, VA. There, she served as the Executive Secretary for a 3-Star Admiral in Crystal City and the Pentagon (Chief of Naval Operations – Space and Electronic Warfare (SPAWAR) Systems Command) for over 10 years until her retirement. In this role, she received the Department of the Navy – Superior Civilian Service Award.
After her retirement, she moved back to Roanoke, AL where she worked as a part-time Attendant at Quattlebaum Funeral Home. She also provided end-of-life, palliative care for numerous family members in Valley, AL and Columbus, GA. After two brief moves to Panama City Beach, FL and LaGrange, GA, she finally moved to Decatur, AL where she lived the remaining 7 years of her life.
Her interests included cooking, reading, traveling, word puzzles, music of all kinds, and family gatherings. She enjoyed attending her children’s and grandchildren’s games, school activities, and dance recitals. She also loved watching and attending her son’s football games and daughter’s cheerleading. She was an avid fan of the Atlanta Braves and the Rocket City Trash Pandas.
Ms. Arnold accepted Jesus Christ as her Lord and Savior and was baptized as a young girl at Bethel Baptist Church in Five Points, AL. As a dedicated Christian, she loved attending Sunday School/Bible Study and singing in the church choir. She was a member of Blue Springs Baptist Church where her son is Pastor. In prior churches where she was a member or attended, she enjoyed helping in the church office, craft room, library, Wednesday Night Suppers, and Vacation Bible School. She especially had a heart for missions and served on several local, state, and North American mission teams to a number of locations.
Survivors Include:
Son: Rev. Richard L. Richie (Toni) of Hartselle, AL
Daughter: Kristy R. Henry of Vestavia Hills, AL
Brothers: Lee Arnold (Judy Cregger) of Cooper City, FL
Terry Arnold (Anne Mason) of Huntington Beach, CA
Sister: April Edwards (Denver) of Salem, AL
Grandchildren: Robert Richie
Nathan Richie
William Richie
Penelope Henry
Preceded in Death:
Parents: James Edwin and Miriam Louise Bonner Arnold – Columbus, GA
Brother: James “Jimmy” Arnold – Waverly Hall, GA
In lieu of Flowers, donations may be made in memory of Shelia Arnold to:
Blue Springs Baptist Church – Somerville (Florette), AL and/or The Lottie Moon Christmas Offering for International Missions of the Southern Baptist Convention.
