Robert Paisley Shackelford, Jr. – or Bob, as he became known to everyone – was born in Savannah, Tennessee July 17, 1931, the son of the late R. P., Sr. and Kathryne Hall Shackelford. His family moved to Bolivar, Tennessee to open a funeral home there when he was only three months old. It was there he met Bobbie Jo Rogers who became his wife on December 23, 1951. She preceded him in death on May 1, 2008. Together they had two children, Lisa Shackelford Thomas and Robert Paisley Shackelford, III. Today, those two children are joined by their spouses, Joe Thomas and Alison Vickery Shackelford, their grandchildren, Robert Joseph Thomas and his wife, Natalie, Kathryne Thomas Guinn and her husband, Dennis, Preston Lee Shackelford and Autumn Nicole Shackelford – and by Bob's great-grandson, Wilson Reed Thomas.
Bob had been active in funeral service since his high school years, leaving classes to work funerals in his hometown of Bolivar. After graduating from Vanderbilt University with a degree in business, he served in the Army during the Korean conflict. Graduation from John A. Gupton College of Mortuary Science followed in June of 1955 at which time he moved to Savannah to assume the management of the family firm there. In the years that followed, he not only managed the Savannah location but also served in many elected positions for state and national funeral service organizations. In 1971, he was elected as President of the Tennessee Funeral Directors Association and subsequently served on several committees, including the Education, Constitution and Bylaws, Budget and Audit and Legislative Committees. He was a member of the Board of Directors of National Selected Morticians from 1982 until 1986, serving as the Secretary/Treasurer from 1985-1986. He also chaired several committees for that organization, including Long-Range Planning, Board Pre-Need Policy Formulation and the Federal Trade Commission Funeral Trade Practice Rule Committees. Bob was appointed to the Tennessee Board of Funeral Directors and Embalmers by the Governor of the state in January, 1987; he remained a member through January, 1991, serving as chairman of the board during his last year. In 1989, he was elected as a District Governor of the National Funeral Directors Association, a position he held for the next four years. He was one of a select group of funeral directors asked to testify before the Senate Sub-Committee on Small Business in Washington, D.C. concerning the then proposed Federal Trade Commission Funeral Practice Rule. That testimony was given on behalf of the National Funeral Directors Association; he spoke again at the Federal Trade Commission hearings in Atlanta on behalf of funeral directors from Tennessee. In June of 2003, the Tennessee Funeral Directors Association honored Bob for 50 years of dedication to the funeral service profession.
Bob believed strongly in community involvement and served on numerous city and county boards such as the Planning Commission for the City of Savannah, the Hardin United Givers' Organization, the Four-County Port Authority, the Airport Authority, and the Tennessee Valley Electric Cooperative. His membership in Rotary led to his serving in the office of President and to being named as a Paul Harris Fellow. Even as a young man, his dedication was recognized by the Jaycees who named him as their Outstanding Young Man of the Year. He was a founder of what is now known as Central Bank in Savannah and a member of the Board of Directors of The Bank of Bolivar. Bob also served as a member of the Board of Directors of John A. Gupton College and served as a trustee for David Lipscomb University in Nashville – but perhaps the area of service dearest to his heart was his eldership with the Savannah Church of Christ, where he had been a member since arriving in Savannah in 1955.
Bob loved to fly, obtaining his pilot's license and flying air ambulance transfers in the days before life flight helicopters. He was also a frustrated race car driver, which may have explained his love of flying. His love of music and theater led him to sing quite often for funerals, talent shows, and other functions; his enjoyment of the theater extended beyond merely watching others perform to actually participating in local productions where he filled the role of Ebenezer Scrooge in "A Christmas Carol", the undertaker in "Oliver", and Abraham Lincoln in "Shiloh", a play written by a local author.
More than anything else, Bob loved and served his God, his family, and his fellow man. There was never a time when he was too busy to listen, too busy to help, or too busy to care – which might explain why he was perpetually late for almost everything. His sense of humor and the mischievous twinkle in his eye belied the somberness of the profession he had chosen and gave the world a glimpse of the Bob Shackelford his family and friends knew and loved.
Bob departed this life on Monday, November 23, 2009 at his home in Savannah at the age of 78 years, 4 months and 6 days. Services will be held at the Savannah Church of Christ at 2:00 p.m. Sunday, November 29, 2009 with burial to follow in the Memory Gardens.
Bob had been active in funeral service since his high school years, leaving classes to work funerals in his hometown of Bolivar. After graduating from Vanderbilt University with a degree in business, he served in the Army during the Korean conflict. Graduation from John A. Gupton College of Mortuary Science followed in June of 1955 at which time he moved to Savannah to assume the management of the family firm there. In the years that followed, he not only managed the Savannah location but also served in many elected positions for state and national funeral service organizations. In 1971, he was elected as President of the Tennessee Funeral Directors Association and subsequently served on several committees, including the Education, Constitution and Bylaws, Budget and Audit and Legislative Committees. He was a member of the Board of Directors of National Selected Morticians from 1982 until 1986, serving as the Secretary/Treasurer from 1985-1986. He also chaired several committees for that organization, including Long-Range Planning, Board Pre-Need Policy Formulation and the Federal Trade Commission Funeral Trade Practice Rule Committees. Bob was appointed to the Tennessee Board of Funeral Directors and Embalmers by the Governor of the state in January, 1987; he remained a member through January, 1991, serving as chairman of the board during his last year. In 1989, he was elected as a District Governor of the National Funeral Directors Association, a position he held for the next four years. He was one of a select group of funeral directors asked to testify before the Senate Sub-Committee on Small Business in Washington, D.C. concerning the then proposed Federal Trade Commission Funeral Practice Rule. That testimony was given on behalf of the National Funeral Directors Association; he spoke again at the Federal Trade Commission hearings in Atlanta on behalf of funeral directors from Tennessee. In June of 2003, the Tennessee Funeral Directors Association honored Bob for 50 years of dedication to the funeral service profession.
Bob believed strongly in community involvement and served on numerous city and county boards such as the Planning Commission for the City of Savannah, the Hardin United Givers' Organization, the Four-County Port Authority, the Airport Authority, and the Tennessee Valley Electric Cooperative. His membership in Rotary led to his serving in the office of President and to being named as a Paul Harris Fellow. Even as a young man, his dedication was recognized by the Jaycees who named him as their Outstanding Young Man of the Year. He was a founder of what is now known as Central Bank in Savannah and a member of the Board of Directors of The Bank of Bolivar. Bob also served as a member of the Board of Directors of John A. Gupton College and served as a trustee for David Lipscomb University in Nashville – but perhaps the area of service dearest to his heart was his eldership with the Savannah Church of Christ, where he had been a member since arriving in Savannah in 1955.
Bob loved to fly, obtaining his pilot's license and flying air ambulance transfers in the days before life flight helicopters. He was also a frustrated race car driver, which may have explained his love of flying. His love of music and theater led him to sing quite often for funerals, talent shows, and other functions; his enjoyment of the theater extended beyond merely watching others perform to actually participating in local productions where he filled the role of Ebenezer Scrooge in "A Christmas Carol", the undertaker in "Oliver", and Abraham Lincoln in "Shiloh", a play written by a local author.
More than anything else, Bob loved and served his God, his family, and his fellow man. There was never a time when he was too busy to listen, too busy to help, or too busy to care – which might explain why he was perpetually late for almost everything. His sense of humor and the mischievous twinkle in his eye belied the somberness of the profession he had chosen and gave the world a glimpse of the Bob Shackelford his family and friends knew and loved.
Bob departed this life on Monday, November 23, 2009 at his home in Savannah at the age of 78 years, 4 months and 6 days. Services will be held at the Savannah Church of Christ at 2:00 p.m. Sunday, November 29, 2009 with burial to follow in the Memory Gardens.
Robert Paisley Shackelford, Jr. – or Bob, as he became known to everyone – was born in Savannah, Tennessee July 17, 1931, the son of the late R. P., Sr. and Kathryne Hall Shackelford. His family moved to Bolivar, Tennessee to open a funeral home there when he was only three months old. It was there he met Bobbie Jo Rogers who became his wife on December 23, 1951. She preceded him in death on May 1, 2008. Together they had two children, Lisa Shackelford Thomas and Robert Paisley Shackelford, III. Today, those two children are joined by their spouses, Joe Thomas and Alison Vickery Shackelford, their grandchildren, Robert Joseph Thomas and his wife, Natalie, Kathryne Thomas Guinn and her husband, Dennis, Preston Lee Shackelford and Autumn Nicole Shackelford – and by Bob's great-grandson, Wilson Reed Thomas.
Bob had been active in funeral service since his high school years, leaving classes to work funerals in his hometown of Bolivar. After graduating from Vanderbilt University with a degree in business, he served in the Army during the Korean conflict. Graduation from John A. Gupton College of Mortuary Science followed in June of 1955 at which time he moved to Savannah to assume the management of the family firm there. In the years that followed, he not only managed the Savannah location but also served in many elected positions for state and national funeral service organizations. In 1971, he was elected as President of the Tennessee Funeral Directors Association and subsequently served on several committees, including the Education, Constitution and Bylaws, Budget and Audit and Legislative Committees. He was a member of the Board of Directors of National Selected Morticians from 1982 until 1986, serving as the Secretary/Treasurer from 1985-1986. He also chaired several committees for that organization, including Long-Range Planning, Board Pre-Need Policy Formulation and the Federal Trade Commission Funeral Trade Practice Rule Committees. Bob was appointed to the Tennessee Board of Funeral Directors and Embalmers by the Governor of the state in January, 1987; he remained a member through January, 1991, serving as chairman of the board during his last year. In 1989, he was elected as a District Governor of the National Funeral Directors Association, a position he held for the next four years. He was one of a select group of funeral directors asked to testify before the Senate Sub-Committee on Small Business in Washington, D.C. concerning the then proposed Federal Trade Commission Funeral Practice Rule. That testimony was given on behalf of the National Funeral Directors Association; he spoke again at the Federal Trade Commission hearings in Atlanta on behalf of funeral directors from Tennessee. In June of 2003, the Tennessee Funeral Directors Association honored Bob for 50 years of dedication to the funeral service profession.
Bob believed strongly in community involvement and served on numerous city and county boards such as the Planning Commission for the City of Savannah, the Hardin United Givers' Organization, the Four-County Port Authority, the Airport Authority, and the Tennessee Valley Electric Cooperative. His membership in Rotary led to his serving in the office of President and to being named as a Paul Harris Fellow. Even as a young man, his dedication was recognized by the Jaycees who named him as their Outstanding Young Man of the Year. He was a founder of what is now known as Central Bank in Savannah and a member of the Board of Directors of The Bank of Bolivar. Bob also served as a member of the Board of Directors of John A. Gupton College and served as a trustee for David Lipscomb University in Nashville – but perhaps the area of service dearest to his heart was his eldership with the Savannah Church of Christ, where he had been a member since arriving in Savannah in 1955.
Bob loved to fly, obtaining his pilot's license and flying air ambulance transfers in the days before life flight helicopters. He was also a frustrated race car driver, which may have explained his love of flying. His love of music and theater led him to sing quite often for funerals, talent shows, and other functions; his enjoyment of the theater extended beyond merely watching others perform to actually participating in local productions where he filled the role of Ebenezer Scrooge in "A Christmas Carol", the undertaker in "Oliver", and Abraham Lincoln in "Shiloh", a play written by a local author.
More than anything else, Bob loved and served his God, his family, and his fellow man. There was never a time when he was too busy to listen, too busy to help, or too busy to care – which might explain why he was perpetually late for almost everything. His sense of humor and the mischievous twinkle in his eye belied the somberness of the profession he had chosen and gave the world a glimpse of the Bob Shackelford his family and friends knew and loved.
Bob departed this life on Monday, November 23, 2009 at his home in Savannah at the age of 78 years, 4 months and 6 days. Services will be held at the Savannah Church of Christ at 2:00 p.m. Sunday, November 29, 2009 with burial to follow in the Memory Gardens.
Bob had been active in funeral service since his high school years, leaving classes to work funerals in his hometown of Bolivar. After graduating from Vanderbilt University with a degree in business, he served in the Army during the Korean conflict. Graduation from John A. Gupton College of Mortuary Science followed in June of 1955 at which time he moved to Savannah to assume the management of the family firm there. In the years that followed, he not only managed the Savannah location but also served in many elected positions for state and national funeral service organizations. In 1971, he was elected as President of the Tennessee Funeral Directors Association and subsequently served on several committees, including the Education, Constitution and Bylaws, Budget and Audit and Legislative Committees. He was a member of the Board of Directors of National Selected Morticians from 1982 until 1986, serving as the Secretary/Treasurer from 1985-1986. He also chaired several committees for that organization, including Long-Range Planning, Board Pre-Need Policy Formulation and the Federal Trade Commission Funeral Trade Practice Rule Committees. Bob was appointed to the Tennessee Board of Funeral Directors and Embalmers by the Governor of the state in January, 1987; he remained a member through January, 1991, serving as chairman of the board during his last year. In 1989, he was elected as a District Governor of the National Funeral Directors Association, a position he held for the next four years. He was one of a select group of funeral directors asked to testify before the Senate Sub-Committee on Small Business in Washington, D.C. concerning the then proposed Federal Trade Commission Funeral Practice Rule. That testimony was given on behalf of the National Funeral Directors Association; he spoke again at the Federal Trade Commission hearings in Atlanta on behalf of funeral directors from Tennessee. In June of 2003, the Tennessee Funeral Directors Association honored Bob for 50 years of dedication to the funeral service profession.
Bob believed strongly in community involvement and served on numerous city and county boards such as the Planning Commission for the City of Savannah, the Hardin United Givers' Organization, the Four-County Port Authority, the Airport Authority, and the Tennessee Valley Electric Cooperative. His membership in Rotary led to his serving in the office of President and to being named as a Paul Harris Fellow. Even as a young man, his dedication was recognized by the Jaycees who named him as their Outstanding Young Man of the Year. He was a founder of what is now known as Central Bank in Savannah and a member of the Board of Directors of The Bank of Bolivar. Bob also served as a member of the Board of Directors of John A. Gupton College and served as a trustee for David Lipscomb University in Nashville – but perhaps the area of service dearest to his heart was his eldership with the Savannah Church of Christ, where he had been a member since arriving in Savannah in 1955.
Bob loved to fly, obtaining his pilot's license and flying air ambulance transfers in the days before life flight helicopters. He was also a frustrated race car driver, which may have explained his love of flying. His love of music and theater led him to sing quite often for funerals, talent shows, and other functions; his enjoyment of the theater extended beyond merely watching others perform to actually participating in local productions where he filled the role of Ebenezer Scrooge in "A Christmas Carol", the undertaker in "Oliver", and Abraham Lincoln in "Shiloh", a play written by a local author.
More than anything else, Bob loved and served his God, his family, and his fellow man. There was never a time when he was too busy to listen, too busy to help, or too busy to care – which might explain why he was perpetually late for almost everything. His sense of humor and the mischievous twinkle in his eye belied the somberness of the profession he had chosen and gave the world a glimpse of the Bob Shackelford his family and friends knew and loved.
Bob departed this life on Monday, November 23, 2009 at his home in Savannah at the age of 78 years, 4 months and 6 days. Services will be held at the Savannah Church of Christ at 2:00 p.m. Sunday, November 29, 2009 with burial to follow in the Memory Gardens.
Family Members
Sponsored by Ancestry
Advertisement
Advertisement
