Shelby Jean Angel Crosswhite

May 7, 1938 - December 28, 2025

DECATUR – Shelby Jean Angel Crosswhite, 87, of Decatur passed away Sunday at her home after a long illness. She was preceded in death by her parents, Cornelius Cecil and Ethel Atkinson Angel and her brothers, Charles, Cecil and Donnie Angel.

She is survived by her husband, Billy, of 66 years and three children: Mark Adam Crosswhite (Jane Emily) of Mountain Brook; Suzanne Angel Crosswhite James (Brad) of Saraland; and Emily Crosswhite Carpenter (Todd) of Natchez, Miss. along with her sisters Bobbie Willard (Pinkie) of Killen and Betty Angel of Bethpage, NY.

Shelby is also survived by her grandchildren William Crosswhite, James Crosswhite (Abby), Morgan James, Lindsay Angel James, Mary Kathryn Carpenter Haynie (Chad), Jackson Carpenter (Caroline) and Henry Carpenter along with one great-grandchild Shelby June Haynie.

A woman of deep and abiding faith, Shelby valued her relationships with God, her family and those she served as a longtime educator in Morgan County. Educated in the Lauderdale County School System, Shelby was a graduate of Central High School where she exceled in academics and was Homecoming Queen. She earned numerous degrees from Florence State University and Alabama A&M prior to joining the Morgan County School System as a teacher. She was devoted to her students, many of whom became lifelong friends. Shelby and Billy were members of Central Baptist Church.

Shelby took great pride in her work as a special education teacher, touching the lives of thousands of students, and in philanthropic work including donating her time and talent to the Lurleen B. Wallace Center along with management of TLC, a ministry of Central Baptist Church for its homebound members.

Visitation will be on Wednesday, December 31 at Roselawn Funeral home in Decatur from 12:00 pm to 1:00pm with the Celebration of Life service to start at 1pm. The graveside service will follow at Tri-Cities Memorial Gardens in Florence.

Pallbearers will be William Crosswhite, James Crosswhite, Morgan James, Jackson Carpenter, Henry Carpenter and Chad Haynie.

In lieu of flowers the family asks you consider a donation to Hospice of the Valley of Decatur.