Sally Robertson “Sassy” Shull

Sally Norman Robertson “Sassy” Shull died at home on June 18, 2025 at the age of 97. Sassy was born in Lexington, NC on February 19, 1928, to Mary Norman "Happy" and William Dixon Robertson. She grew up in Columbia, SC, attending A.C. Moore Elementary, Hand Junior High, and Columbia High School. She continued her education at Greensboro College before graduating from the University of South Carolina. There, she became a lifelong Gamecock fan, a member of Kappa Delta sorority and met her late husband, William Dewey "Billy" Shull, who had returned from service in World War II. They married on April 29, 1950 and made their home in Columbia on Spring Lake Road, where Sassy has lived for over seventy years.

Sassy was blessed with gifts that she shared generously with family, friends and community. She was a talented artist and writer. Her portraits of people and dogs (her favorite subjects) grace the walls of many homes today. For most of her life, Sassy wrote poetry and when introduced to the computer, she penned a novella which she published for her friends and family. Sassy and Billy were charter members of Trenholm Road Methodist Church in 1954, where she taught Sunday School for over 20 years and created the beautiful banners that hang in the sanctuary to this day.

Sassy was a natural athlete, fiercely competitive, an avid golfer and a true sports fan. She could perform handstands on the beach well into her 50s. She posted four holes-in-one on the golf course and marked her 95th birthday with a nine-hole round. When you watched a Gamecock or Braves game with Sassy, no program was needed. She knew all the numbers.

Sassy had a special gift for connecting with people of all ages, treating young people as friends rather than children. As a devoted mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother, she instilled in her family a love of God, strong moral compass, a positive outlook and deep family bonds. When her grandchildren were in their teens and twenties and she was not confident about their church attendance, they were the lucky recipients of Sunday emails from Sassy. Those messages from “The Church Lady “ were loving, often humorous, and mildly instructive. They are treasures today.

Sassy was blessed with a long, good life. We are grateful to all who cared for her when she reluctantly gave up her independence, especially Evonne Bigby, Gwen Dunn, Ashema Hackett, Vilma Evans, Phyllis Redmond, Gwen Nichols, Diane Bookert, Prisma Hospice, and her dear friends on The Circle.

Sassy was predeceased by her husband, her parents and her brother, Rear Admiral Wiliam Dixon Robertson, Jr. and his wife Tut . She is survived by her three daughters and their husbands, Hargrave and Rick McElroy, Sally and Michael Teden, and Sandy and Michael Roberts. She is also survived by her beloved grandchildren Richard (Katherine) McElroy, Will (Molly) McElroy, John (Alex) McElroy, Andrew (Caitlin) Teden, Clement (Whitney) Teden, Dewey (Mary Pell) Teden, Sam (Meredith) Teden, Clark (Lauren) Roberts, Sally (William) Braden, and Ben Roberts. She was also blessed and survived by 24 great grandchildren, Mac, Gray, Eve, Mary Hargrave, Shepherd, Francie, Capers, and Charlotte McElroy, Sydney, Zoe, Charlotte, Claire, Charlie, Cate, Leighton, Billy, Jack, Parker, and Daniel Teden, Mae, Clark, and William Roberts, and Dewey and Ruth Braden. She is also survived by her niece Fran Butler, her nephew Dixon Robertson and her sweet dog Dolly, the last of many dogs who were lucky enough to call Sassy their owner. The traditional family week at Pawleys Island that she and Billy started continues this summer with a gathering of 49. Thank you Sassy and Big Bill.

A service celebrating Sassy’s life will be held Thursday, July 24, at Trenholm Road United Methodist Church at 2:30 PM. Memorials in Sassy’s honor may be made to Trenholm Road United Methodist Church, 3401 Trenholm Road, Columbia, SC 29204, or to the charity of your choice.