Shelby D Massey

Shelby Massey was born September 1, 1933. He was ushered into heaven on August 19,2024. He was born in Mt. Hope, Alabama on a farm down a dirt road in a house with no electricity. As he grew, so did his desire to learn. While in high school he read every book in the school library. He attended the University of North Alabama in Athens, Alabama until he was drafted into the army as a paratrooper during the Korean War. One story he spoke of about the experience was that one night he was loaded on a plane with a group of other soldiers in full battle gear headed for Korea. As they began to take off, the plane came to an abrupt stop on the runway. They were ordered to get off the plane. Two troop trucks pulled up and their occupants were ordered onto the plane and the plane departed. Shelby’s group were ordered into the trucks and taken to the barracks. He said no one asked any questions.

Following his military service, he completed his college studies at night while working 6 days a week with degrees in business, math, economics, and marketing.

He began his career in agricultural business with Alabama Flour Mills which later became Conagra where he worked for 16 years. During this season of his life, he prayed for the opportunity to run a Christian organization. He left Conagra in 1971 to run Valmac Industries. Under his leadership the company grew from annual sales of $75 million to over $1 billion in 10 years. While serving at Valmac, He instituted a corporate chaplain program where he placed a chaplain in their corporate headquarters and in every facility. Shelby led the merger of Valmac with Tyson Foods, where he was Executive Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors.

Shelby led Conagra, Valmac and Tyson foods to create their very first corporate business plan. He was responsible for tremendous innovations in the poultry industry. He initiated the Process and created a market for selling in parts rather than as a whole. His innovation created chicken tenders, buffalo wings and Wendy’s Chicken Sandwiches, of which his son, Mike, sold the first one in the Memphis market.

In partnership with the late Willard Sparks, Shelby founded CattleCo which was a cattle feeding operation that fed herds of 200,000+ head spread across four separate operations across three states.

Shelby considered the pinnacle of his leadership accomplishments as being the privilege to co-found Pioneer Missions. Pioneer Missions has a global reach today and has resulted in hundreds of thousands coming to faith Jesus Christ as well as the establishment of thousands of churches where new believers are being discipled. This missional brought more joy to Shelby than perhaps any other accomplishments in his life.

On a personal note, Shelby was a devoted follower of Jesus Christ. He surrendered his life to Jesus and walked with Him throughout his life. Shelby was a longtime member of Germantown Baptist Church where he served in various leadership positions such as teacher and trustee.

When Shelby was discharged from the Army in 1955, he married the love of his life, Betty, who proceeded him in death. They had two children, Mike (Leanne) and Beverly (Paul). Shelby also leaves behind his beloved sister, Dawn Kirby of Huntsville, Alabama, 7 grandchildren, 18 great grandchildren and 2 great, great grandchildren. When Shelby surrendered his life to Jesus, everything changed. He said himself, “my expectations were wealth and power. God’s expectations were job training to spread the Gospel.”

At 25 Shelby developed his life plan. It was to rise to the top of the corporate world. To experience success in personal business. To devote knowledge, experience, and assets to God’s Kingdom to help others by sowing the seeds of the Gospel worldwide. He fulfilled his life plan.

Shelby’s impact was perhaps seen more openly in his commitment to mentoring others. The list of men whose lives, families, and businesses have been transformed due to Shelby’s influence and faithful mentorship is too long to list. Shelby was faithful to the very end pouring himself into those who were privileged to call him friend, brother, and mentor.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be given to Pioneer Missions Global located at 2574 Christmasville Cove, Jackson, TN 38305.