Royce Maynard Shelton

Royce was born March 23, 1934 to Benjamin Hoston and Ota (Barr) Shelton in Pickens County, Alabama. He is survived by his daughter, Kimberley Forbes (Jerry, Jr) of Arlington, Texas and Kevin Shelton of Lakeland, Florida and two grandsons, Jerry Forbes III and Joshua Forbes (Kellin) and one great grandson, Mathias Forbes. Preceding him in death were a brother, Thames Hoston (Kate) of Ethelsville, Alabama and nine half brothers and sisters (by his dad’s first wife, Laura). They were Willard Ferguson, Mae Dell, John Howard, Bertha, Benjamin L, Alex Murphy, Lena Pearl, George Travis, and Herndon. Royce Shelton has many nieces and nephews and cousins by the dozens.

Royce graduated from Liberty High School in 1952. He enrolled in Southeastern Bible Institute (now Southeastern University) and graduated with a diploma in 1955. Transferring to Florida Southern College, he earned a Bachelor of Arts in English Education in 1956.

In 1956, Royce married the love of his life Faye McQuery from Big Stone Gap, Virginia. They were happily married for 61 years until her death in 2017. In 1956, Royce enrolled in Wheaton College and was awarded the MA Degree in New Testament in 1960. In the interim, he taught in the public schools in Illinois and held some level of pastoral ministry in Suburban Assembly of God in Downers Grove, Illinois. After six and a half years as lead pastor or that Church, he was hired to return to his alma mater, Southeastern Bible College to join the faculty. After two years of teaching full time, he became registrar, a position he held along with part-time teaching for the next 30 years, a part of which he also directed the admission process. He achieved the rank of professor and was known for teaching the Gospel of John and Romans and was much loved by his students many of whom remarked that he customarily began his early morning classes at 7:30am with “Good morning, Saints.”

After retirement in 1999, Royce and Faye travelled widely both domestically and internationally.

The funeral will be held at Chapel at Victory Assembly of God in Lakeland, Florida at 1401 Griffin Road with visitation at 10:00am followed by a service at 11:00am and refreshments and fellowship afterwards. Internment will be