Marguerite Shelton Harrell

Marguerite Shelton Harrell, 80, of Valdosta, Georgia became absent from her body and present with our Lord on Sunday, March 24, 2024. She was born on July 20, 1943, to the late Esbie & Marie Allen Shelton, and was a lifelong resident of Lowndes County. Growing up in Naylor, she went to Lowndes High School where she was named the first Homecoming Queen in 1960. Marguerite also played basketball with the Lowndes County High School Women’s Basketball team. After graduation, she attended Georgia Southern University. During her college years, she participated in many beauty pageants and the scholarships she won helped put her through college. During college, she was dating Ike Harrell, also from Valdosta, having become a couple at the Twin Lakes Pavilion. They married after graduation at Lee Street Baptist Church in Valdosta on December 23, 1967. Back in Valdosta, the Harrell’s began their family.

 When the girls were still young, Marguerite began work as a decorator at the Decorating Den. In the late 1970’s, she went out on her own to begin Marguerite Harrell Interior Designs. She helped people in this area make their homes and businesses beautiful for 40 years. She was certified by the ASID, the American Society of Interior Design, and named in the Who’s Who of Interior Design. 

Marguerite was also active in the community, participating for many years in the Quota Club. She was named Woman of the Year by the Quota Club in the early 80’s. She was also instrumental in the Miss Spirit of Patriotism Pageant, hosted by the Quota Club. 

The Harrell’s were devoted members of the First Baptist Church of Valdosta. They began the Outlaw Sunday School Class, where she participated in teaching for many years. Marguerite was also devoted to studying her Bible and researching prophetic events and the Holy Land. This interest encouraged her to host the annual First Baptist Church Israel Teaching/Tour of the Holy Land for many years and led her to write a book, “Seven Weeks of Revelation”. 

Hunting with Ike was also a favorite pastime for Marguerite. The Harrell’s traveled consistently to Argentina to hunt doves. While hunting Marguerite set the Women’s World record for total dove in one day. That record held until the following year when she returned and broke it once again. 

She was also devoted to her family. For many years she was an organizer of the annual Shelton family reunion. She is survived by her three daughters and a son-in-law; Bonny Bowen Harrell McKinnon (& Josh Calvin) Atlanta, GA, Amy Shelton Harrell Mackey and her husband, Lee and Leah Harrell Shaw; three granddaughters, Lillian Shelton Houston, and Susanna Marie Shaw, and Morgan Mackey, and grandsons Mac Mackey, and Crawford Calvin. She is also survived by two sisters Christine Shelton Spain of Columbus and Gail Bailey of Valdosta and a brother-in-law, Dr. Larry Harrell (& Dr. Tom Arbaugh) and numerous nieces and nephews. She is preceded in death by her husband, Ike Harrell, three sisters and two brothers. 

The family will receive friends at Carson McLane Funeral Home on Thursday prior to the service from 12:30 pm until service time. Services will be held in the Chapel of Carson McLane Funeral Home at 2 pm on Thursday, March 28, 2024, with Rev. Mac Weaver and Rev. Dennis Massie officiating. Interment will follow at Good Hope Cemetery.  In lieu of flowers the family has asked that donations be made to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation. 

Condolences may be made online at www.mclanecares.com. Carson McLane Funeral Home