William Scott Shelton, 57, passed away on Monday, Jan. 23 at Gateway Medical Center following a battle with cancer. He was born on Feb. 22, 1954 in Clarksville to Joy Goodlett Shelton Gass and the late William Hardy Shelton.
Visitation will be on Saturday, Jan. 28 from 10 a.m. – Noon at Madison Street United Methodist Church, and a memorial service will be held at 1 p.m. at the church with the Revs. LeNoir Culbertson and Cliff Wright officiating.
He is survived by his wife of 27 years, Elise Frederick Shelton; two sons: Adam Taylor Shelton and William Connor Shelton, both of Clarksville. He is also survived by his mother, Joy Goodlett Shelton Gass and stepfather, William E. Gass. His father, William Hardy Shelton, preceded him in death. Other survivors include: his sister, Elizabeth Trabue Shelton Durnya (Louis) of Huntsville, Ala.; his mother- and father-in-law, Gail and Lawrence Frederick of Trenton, Ky.; four nieces: Sarah Elizabeth Durnya Stevens (Drew) of Birmingham, Ala.; Emily Frederick King (Chris) of Melbourne, Fl.; Michelle Doyle of Nashville; and Julie Frederick of Gainesville, Fl.; two nephews: Cameron Louis Durnya (Nicole) of Huntsville, and Michael Doyle, of Nashville; aunt, Hazel Goodlett of Clarksville, and several cousins.
Honorary Pallbearers include members of the News Brothers; members of the MSUMC Community Sunday School Class; friends and co-workers at Cumberland Electric Membership Corp.; and board members of the Tennessee Radio Hall of Fame.
Mr. Shelton has served as Communications Coordinator for Cumberland Electric Membership Corp. for 10 years, where, among other duties, he wrote and edited a monthly five-page section for “The Tennessee Magazine.” Previously he worked as an Account Manager at Bibb, Lott & Fryer Marketing. And, he served as Public Affairs Director for the City of Clarksville for 12 years. He was Press Secretary for Steve Hewlett for Tennessee Public Service Commission. Additionally, he worked in news for WSM Radio, Nashville; WJZM Radio, Clarksville; and WETE Radio, Knoxville. He served on the Board of Directors of the Tennessee Radio Broadcasters. He was a lifelong member of Madison Street United Methodist Church.
He was a graduate of Clarksville High School and earned his bachelor of science degree in communications from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville where he majored in broadcasting and minored in political science. He received recognitions from Who’s Who in America, Who’s Who in the South and Southwest, and he received the Greater Nashville Regional Council Local Government Award in Communications. He was a former member of the Jaycees and the Clarksville Rotary Club.
His favorite pastimes, aside from spending time with family, were attending rock concerts, photography, supporting the Tennessee Vols, the Tennessee Titans, and the Atlanta Braves and collecting Beatles memorabilia.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Clarksville-Montgomery County Education Foundation 621 Gracey Avenue, Clarksville, TN 37040. Arrangements are entrusted to Neal-Tarpley-Parchman Funeral Home, 1510 Madison St., Clarksville, Tn. 37040 (931) 645-6488. Online condolences may be made at www.neal-tarpley.com.