ONE OF CITY"S BEST KNOWN MEN CALLED - W B SHACKLEFORD IS VICTIM OF BRIEF ILLNESS --
William B Shackleford, 74, for more than half a century a prominent citizen of Decatur and leading North Alabama banker, died at 9:50 Thursday night at his home, 402 Ferry street. Mr Shackleford had been ill little more than a week.
Funeral rites will be conducted at First Baptist Church at 2:30 Saturday afternoon. The Rev J F Ray, pastor, will conduct and will be assisted by the Rev L D Patterson, pastor of First Methodist church. Brown will direct burial at City cemetery.
Active pallbearers will be S M Voorhies, J W Wyker, D D Burleson, C R Green, Garner Pride and Rufus Peerson, while honorary pallbearers will be directors of the New Morgan County Building and Loan Association, of which Mr Shackleford was an official and ex-director of the First National bank.
Surviving are three sisters, Mrs W E Stanley, Tuscumbia; Mrs A W Briscoe and Miss Emma Shackleford, of Dadeville; a daughter-in-law, Mrs Edwin Shackleford and a grandson, Edwin Shackleford, Jr.
Mr Shackleford was born in Tuscumbia but came to Decatur more than 50 years ago to reside. He was cashier of the old First National Bank and later cashier of the Bank of Commerce. When that instition was taken over by the newly organized City Natonal Bank he became cashier of the combined banks.
Possessed of a gentle, kindly character, Mr Shackleford was one of the most beloved men in the part of the state, and one of the most widely known.
He was a member of the Knights of Phythias and for years was active in church affairs, and formerly played in the orchestra of First Baptist church. He was the son of the late Dr Joseph Sheckleford, Baptist minister, and one of North Alabama's best known earlier educatiors. Dr Shackleford for years maintained a school on Trinity mountain, some of the leading citizens of that community having been his pupils.
Prior to coming to Decatur, to reside, Mr Shackleford lived for a time at Moulton and also at Trinity.
In addition to his banking activities, Shackleford was a director in a number of industrial enterprises.
DECATUR DAILY - January 10, 1936