Yvonne E. Shackelford (Washington), age 88, was called to her heavenly home quietly and peacefully on Wednesday, November 6, 2024, at Albemarle Health and Rehab Center, surrounded by her children.

Born July 5, 1936, in Crozet, Virginia to the late Emmett Lester Washington, Sr., and the late Thelma P. Washington of Crozet, Virginia, Yvonne is the last of their four children to join them in heaven. Yvonne is proceeded in death by her husband of 39 years, the late Raymond N. Shackelford, Jr., two brothers, the late Denton G. Washington, and the late Emmett Lester Washington, Jr., and one sister, the late Vivian W. Meads.

Yvonne accepted Christ at an early age. She faithfully served as a Deaconess at Union Mission Baptist Church, Crozet, Virginia, and later became an Associate Member of the Pleasant Grove Baptist Church in Earlysville, Virginia, where she rededicated her life to Christ, and attended faithfully until her death.

Yvonne was educated in the Albemarle/Charlottesville Public School system, graduating from the historical Jackson P. Burley High School in 1954. After graduation, Yvonne attended the Albemarle Training School, while working several full-time jobs in retail and dry-cleaning. After passing the State Board Certification and obtaining her LPN license, Yvonne became one of the 150 black LPNs of that time to be employed by the University of Virginia (UVA) Hospital, where she worked for many years. After retiring from UVA, Yvonne worked at several local nursing homes.

Yvonne loved to sew. She enjoyed making clothes, hats, blankets, wedding gowns and other items for her family and friends. Yvonne had a special gift of giving back to her neighbors in the “Prospect” Community. In her earlier years, she co-led a Boy Scouts Troop, coordinated block parties to bring her neighbors together and sponsored food drives all funded through her sales of candy apples and baked goods, which also supported her many other community endeavors. Many fondly remember Yvonne as the “Candy-Apple Lady”. Yvonne later founded “Senior Solutions,” a wonderful group of senior women who organized back-to-school campaigns, providing kids in the community with backpacks and school supplies, Christmas toy drives and Easter basket giveaways and she sponsored many Easter-egg hunts for the community children and their families.

Through her compassion and dedication, she has touched the lives of countless children and families, bringing smiles, hope and assistance to those in need.

Yvonne leaves to cherish her memory five children: Valerie Johnson of Columbia, South Carolina, Renae N. Saunders, and her husband James of Bare, Vermont, David J. Shackelford, Sr.

and his friend, Josephine Pinkney of Charlottesville, Virginia, Yvette E. Carr, and her husband Rev. Ralph L. of Earlysville, Virginia, and Raymond N. Shackelford, III and his wife Bridgett of Charlottesville, Virginia.

Eight grandchildren: Shameera Carr, Shamica Cooper, Monica McDonald, Dorian, Johnson, David Shackelford, Jr., Marquita Dukes, LaToya Shackelford, and Lincoln Carr. Seventeen great- grandchildren; two sisters-in-law; Constance Washington of Largo, Maryland and Connie Shackelford of Charlottesville, Virginia. Two very special friends: Nancy Allen and Mary-Anne Henley; a surrogate son, Wesley Ivory; and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, relatives, and friends who all loved her dearly and will forever cherish her memory.

For more on services and to share your condolences, visit JF Bell Funeral Home.