Shelby Small

Born May 17, 1941 in Vance County, North Carolina

Died February 28, 2020 at Kate B. Reynolds Hospice Home in Winston-Salem, NC

Shelby's growing up years were spent in Greensboro, NC with summers in Henderson, NC “happily” working in tobacco.  The part about working in tobacco may explain why she never smoked a day in her life.

After graduating in 1959 in the first class at the new Page High School in Greensboro, she was introduced to the real world by going to work for Jefferson Standard Life Insurance Company.  In the meantime, the love bug was beginning its work in her heart.

She tells the story (and always swore it was true) that the first time she saw Joe, her future husband, in the choir at Buchanan Baptist Church, she turned to her mother and said “there is the man I am going to marry.” On September 3, 1961 her marriage to Joe happened, the luckiest day of his life he will tell you!

Shelby and Joe desperately wanted to start a family but nearly 10 years of no success followed.  She finally conceived and after a difficult nearly 30 hours of labor, she gave birth to Joseph Thomas Small (Tommy) who had gotten so tired of waiting to be born that he had grown to 9 pounds 3 ounces!

By now Shelby was 29 and Joe was 31.  Their dream of a large family seemed doomed due to such a late start.  But lo and behold, God's plan for them was FAR from complete! On October 6, 1974 to their great surprise, she gave birth to twins, Patrick Jeremy and Angela Leigh.

OK God, that's enough, they thought.  But again, His plan was not complete.  On March 18, 1976, Catherine Amanda was born.  And now God's plan for additions to their family was complete!

The child-raising years rolled by and life was good.  Then came May 23-24, 1988.  An evening like any other changed Shelby's and Joe's lives in a most unexpected way.  She was shopping with Jeremy, Angie and Cathie, and Joe was home.  A phone call from paramedics said Tommy had been injured in an automobile accident and was being taken to NC Baptist Hospital in Winston-Salem.  His death on May 24 (Joe's 49th birthday) was a devastating blow for the entire family but by God's Grace they got through it.

After 2½ years of working side by side with Joe in a business they started together, a change in Joe's job situation found her back as a stay-at-home wife and mother.  This was the role she loved most of all and was so good at.

And finally that most magic and anticipated of days arrived – retirement.  Shelby and Joe had purchased a small condo in Ocean Isle Beach in 2000 and were looking forward to changing their address permanently from Kernersville to OIB.  The happiness of retirement at the beach was soon overshadowed by osteoarthritis in her left knee that made climbing the condo's steps difficult for her.  Bummer!

Another condo was found in a brand new community in Sunset Beach.  Not only was the condo new, it had an elevator so climbing steps was no longer an issue.  Shelby's new kitten loved her new home and her new mistress.  Life was really good again!  Their granddaughter Kelsie would spend the next six summers with them.  Shelby treasured these and looked forward to them year after year.

Then came the diagnosis of dementia in 2016.  This was preceded by a gradual but pronounced loss in her hearing.  After 14 years of retirement, she was placed in an assisted living facility in Shallotte, NC.  This was followed by a move to Clapp's Assisted Living in Pleasant Garden, NC to get her closer to family living in the Piedmont.

What was thought to be her final and permanent move in 2018  to South Fork Memory Care in Winston-Salem was followed two years later by a diagnosis of breast cancer and three weeks after that by a fall at South Fork that fractured her pelvis.  These proved to be more than her tired body could endure.

She was moved to Kate B. Reynolds Hospice Care on February 24 where she died peacefully on February 28.

She is survived by husband Joe; son Jeremy and wife Cheri and their children Brittany, Rachel, Amanda, Jacob, Katherine and Caleb; daughter Angie Scarafino and husband Brian; daughter Cathie Roberts and husband Larry and their children Kelsie and Camden; and brother Bill Roberson and wife Jerri.

Shelby was a kind and gentle soul who loved and was loved. Proverbs 31 tells us of The Wife of Noble Character.  It says in verse 10 that “her worth is far above jewels” and in verses 28 and 29 that “her children rise up and bless her; Her husband also, and he praises her, saying: Many daughters have done nobly, But you excel them all.”

These final words attempt to describe the wonderful and indescribable Shelby.  We will celebrate her life on March 5 from 6:00pm –8:00pm at Hayworth-Miller Kernersville Chapel. Flowers are welcome but if you prefer to make a donation, we suggest Trellis Supportive Care at 101 Hospice Lane Winston Salem, NC 27103.