Shelby Schumaker Wright

Shelby Wright, age 86, passed away on January 15, 2024 — a date that happens to be her mother’s birthday. The family shares a smile knowing the two are reunited once again. Shelby valiantly battled Alzheimer’s for six years.

Born in Covington, Virginia, Shelby met her husband of 66 years, Charles Wright while she was in the seventh grade and he in the eighth grade. Their meeting, courtship and matrimony union is a true love story. Two kids from a small town in the country join in love to build a life together and eventually a family. Shelby is known for her big personality (she self-identified as “Big Mama”), her feistiness and her love for her children. She was a member of the First United Methodist Church Fox Hill, a member of the women’s bowling league at Century Lanes in Hampton, VA and became a coach of the Warrior league; a league for teenagers interested in bowling. She was active in her children’s school activities, whether that was attending PTA meetings, participating as a room mother, working at bingo and car washing fundraisers, or chaperoning school events. She had a love for music and animals, allowing her children to have dogs, ducks, a turtle and even a ferret at one time. She was a busy bee but always prioritized family first. She was a phenomenal wife, mother, grandmother and great grandmother, aunt, and a “second mom” to many other non-family individuals.

She is preceded in death by her mother, Helen Fuller Schumaker, her father James Russell Schumaker and her sister, Helen Mae Schumaker Khone. She is survived by her husband, Charles Arthur Wright, her three children Cathy Rowland, Robert Wright and Julie Wright Carroll (Chuck), one granddaughter, Amanda Lewis and four great grandchildren, Adam Lewis, Charlie Plaugher, Lili Plaugher and Noah Plaugher.

A Celebration of Life in Hampton, VA will be announced at a future date. In lieu of flowers the family requests that donations be made in Shelby’s honor to your local chapter of the Humane Society.