Shirley Grace Schultz

Growing up, she was most often known as “Grace”. In this, her life reflects her name. To me, she was just Mama.

Shirley Grace was born October 18, 1930, in the small community of Holland, Virginia to Raleigh and Sabra Roberts. She lived most of her life in this same community among lifelong friends. Shirley graduated from Holland High School and attended Longwood University, earning a BS degree in Business Education. At Longwood, Shirley met Barbara Bradshaw (Nelms) and the two formed a lifelong bond of friendship. In 1952 on a blind date, Shirley met a young Iowa Marine, Eldon (aka Shorty) stationed in Portsmouth who somehow never made it back permanently to the Midwest. They married in 1954. After their marriages, the Schultz and Nelms families continued to share many adventures, raising children, vacationing together on the Outer Banks, and in retirement finishing out the goal of visiting all 50 states in the US, something of which Shirley was proud and grateful to accomplish. Give her a few minutes and she would happily tell you of the places visited!

Education was important to Shirley; she viewed it as an individual’s ticket up, so teaching was a natural field for her. She taught 19 years, taking time out to raise a daughter, first in the Portsmouth, VA school system and later in the Nansemond County (Suffolk) school system. She encouraged all young people to learn a skill and was equally supportive of community college or apprenticeships as career paths. Upon retirement, she also enjoyed yardwork, being outside and listening to the birds.

Family meant everything to Shirley. In 2018 she left the place she had lived most of her life and moved to Cary, NC in order to be near her daughter, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. We were grateful to have her near and for the privilege of spending more time together. Many, many times she expressed how proud she was of us, her family. I only hope we continue to do her proud.

Shirley was pre-deceased by her parents and her husband, Eldon, and is survived by daughter Sharon Oast, grandchildren Katherine (Oast) Quakenbush and husband Mark, Courtney (Oast) Easters and husband Patrick, as well as three great-granddaughters Nora, Eva, and Hannah. Our family is also grateful for the kindness and gentle care Mom received from Sunrise of Cary and the Transitions LifeCare Hospice team.

A graveside service is planned for Saturday, May 14, 11 am, at Meadowbrook Memorial and Cremation Gardens, 4569 Shoulders Hill Road, Suffolk, VA 23435. In lieu of flower please choose the charity that is most meaningful to you.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.BrownWynneCary.com for the Schultz family.