Nell Allison Sheldon

Nell Allison Sheldon was born on March 2, 1916 in Kiangyin, China. The daughter of Presbyterian missionaries, Rev. Andrew Allison and Ella Ward Allison, Nell was witness to the end of the Chinese Empire and the beginnings of the new China. She was schooled initially at home and later at Shanghai American School. Upon graduation Nell came to America where she attended and graduated from Agnes Scott College in Decatur, GA. In 1938, Nell married Charles A. Sheldon III, a graduate student at Columbia Theological Seminary in Decatur, GA. Following his graduation and ordination as a Presbyterian minister Charles and Nell sailed to China to begin a life as missionaries. The invasion of China followed by WWII ended their dream. Following the war Charles and Nell served churches in Monroeville, AL; Shreveport, LA; Bryan, TX; Oklahoma City, OK and Atlanta, GA. Nell was active in church, civic, educational, musical and environmental groups. Nell was the first female volunteer director of Villa International which aided doctors from across the world studying at the CDC in Atlanta. In 2001 Nell moved back to OKC to be near her family here. Nell is survived by her daughter, Allison Sheldon Rogers and son, Andrew Brooks Sheldon; Grandsons, Charles A. Sheldon V, Landon and Brooks Curtis and Benjamin Rivera; Granddaughters, Allison Sheldon and Celia Sheldon Perez; Great grandsons, Charles A. Sheldon VI, Kevin Sheldon, Blake Curtis and Keegan Brooks Curtis; Nieces, Nell, Marianne and Lucy Allison; Nephew, Andrew Alexander. Nell was preceded in death by her husband, Rev. Charles Sheldon III; son, Charles A. Sheldon IV and brother, Dr. Alexander Allison. A memorial service will be held at 1:00 PM Friday, March 11, 2011 at Church of the Savior, 6500 NW 63rd. Contributions may be made to Church of the Savior and the Presbyterian Urban Mission.