Shelby Slemp

Shelby was born on September 12, 1936, in Pennington Gap, Virginia to Earl and Mary Mumpower. The oldest of four children, she grew up in Big Stone Gap, Virginia where she was an active member of the First Christian Church. In high school, she played the clarinet, sang in the Glee Club, was a cheerleader, and was chosen as “Miss Wise County” at the County Fair. After graduating from high school, Shelby worked for C&P Telephone Company as a telephone operator and attended classes at Clinch Valley College, studying Sociology.

In 1958, Shelby married Wayne Slemp, and relocated to Newport News, Virginia, where she continued working for C&P Telephone Company in the business office and was a member of Christ United Methodist Church.

The most joyous times of Shelby’s life were when her three children were born, and she became a loving and dedicated full-time homemaker to her family.

Shelby was a devoted wife to Wayne Sherman Slemp for 46 years, a loving mother to Lara, Leslie, and Greg, a cherished grandmother to Mark, Troy, Jake, David, and Mary Grace, and a treasured great grandmother to Lilian, Noah, and Layne.

Shelby will be remembered for her kind, gentle, and loving nature. She dedicated her life to her family and always had a warm smile, kind words, and heartfelt embrace for those she loved.

She enjoyed painting, sewing, baking, dancing, singing in the church choir, and spending time with friends and family. Shelby especially loved spending time with her grandchildren. She will be deeply missed by all who knew her.

Shelby is survived by her brother, Earl; her sister, Vicki, and her husband, Eddie; her daughter, Lara, and her husband, Brad; her daughter, Leslie; her son, Greg, and his wife Tabetha; her grandsons, Mark, and his wife, Macy; Troy, and his wife, Victoria; Jake, and his wife, Courtney; David, and his wife, MaKenna; her granddaughter, Mary Grace, and her husband, Scott; her great grandchildren, and several nieces and nephews. Shelby was preceded in death by her husband, Wayne, her sister, Margaret “Pog”, and her parents.

A memorial service will be held on Saturday, August 9 at 2pm at Seminole Baptist Church in Tallahassee, Florida. Burial will follow in Peninsula Memorial Park in Newport News, Virginia.