Lola Shelton

Today we celebrate the homegoing of Lola Edwards Shelton. Lola Shelton was a beloved wife and mother that was passionately dedicated to her family. She was born in Chilton, TX where she picked cotton under the hot Texas sun as a child. This ethic of hard work is one that she followed all her life. At the age of nine she moved to Waco and attended school for the first time. Not deterred by delay, she graduated high school a year early, as valedictorian of her class.

Lola met the love of her life, Roscoe Shelton, an R&B singer, in Dallas, TX where he was performing at a concert.  They would later marry and move to Nashville, TN. During these years, she joined him on the “Chitlin’ Circuit” – a collection of performance venues throughout the southeast region. A favorite story of hers was riding in the back seat of the car with Etta James.

Later, Lola would settle into banking as a profession, where she reached the office of Assistant Vice President at Bank of America. There, she worked hard to not only provide excellent banking service, but always took time to educate her younger customers on good personal finance practices and often helped steer customers away from poor financial decisions. She was a force of nature, with a quiet character and the true heart of a servant. She was one who took care of those around her who had need. All who knew were felt loved and cared for; she was a mother figure to many. Her great love and hope was in Jesus Christ, whom she trusted in all things at all times. She served on the usher board at her church, as did her mother before her. In good times and bad, Jesus was her rock. They walked together to the end, and into a new eternal beginning when her race had been run.

Lola Shelton transitioned on August 27, 2023. She is preceded in death by her husband, Roscoe Shelton, Sr.; mother, Mattie Edwards; brothers Robert Lewis and Henry James, and sister Susie Jane Randolph. She is survived by her children, Roscoe (Althea) Shelton, Jr. and Lolinda Elaine (Leigh) Guarin; grandchildren, Nathan Ryker Shelton and Christian Elijah Guarin; brother, Thomas Edwards; sisters, Rose Henry and Laura Royal, and lifelong friend Sandra Sherril. A funeral service will be at 12PM Thursday, September 7, 2023, at Strong Tower Bible Church. Visitation will be one hour prior to the service.