Deaconess Shelby Jean Blackwell Badgett, daughter of the late Bettie Louvenia Brown Blackwell and Lemuel Blackwell, was born on July 15th, 1938, in Reidsville, North Carolina. On Tuesday evening, August 4th, 2026, at Annie Penn Nursing Center, Shelby was called home to be with the Lord.

As a native and lifelong resident of Caswell County, North Carolina, she attended the local public schools and was a graduate of Caswell County Training School, Class of 1955. She pursued further education at Rockingham Community College. Following many years of dedicated service as an Office Clerk, she retired from Burlington Industries.

At a young age, her faith and love of God was manifested when she chose to follow her path to serve at Camp Springs United Methodist Church for the majority of her life, where she taught Sunday School and sang in the choir. Later in life, she became a faithful member of Brown’s Chapel Missionary Baptist Church, joining her husband Harold, where she served as at Deaconess, member of the Educational Board, Senior and Combined Choirs.

In the community, she was deemed committed and respected. Prior to the onset of infirmities, she actively served with the Caswell County NAACP (Mother of the Year Recipient), member of the Board of Directors – Caswell County Senior Center and the Red Hat Society.

“Shelby Jean”, as she was affectionately referred by family and close friends, was a woman with a strong constitution, but an even stronger faith. Embracing life with wisdom and enthusiasm, she faithfully and diligently served her Lord, family and friends. We are thankful for her Christian life and beautiful memories. We are uplifted also with the promise of eternal life after death.

We who are left behind trust in the Lord and understanding of the all-wise God, in the assurance that someday all things will be made plain as we surrender her into His keeping.

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her beloved husband, Harold Badgett; siblings, Curtis Blackwell, Jesse Lenwood Blackwell, Naomi Turner and George Blackwell.

The bonds of family by which she identified in life, and of whom she will be fondly remembered in the hereafter, include: godson, Ryan Blackwell; sisters, Ruth Grant and Ivinia Badgett (Bobby); brother, Sherman Blackwell (Laura); nieces, Brenda Dawkins, Elsie Parker, Diane Allen (Thomas), Glendora Faucette (Paul), Ramona Blackwell, Sherry Blackwell, Loria Slade (Sammy) and Pastor Angela Fountain (Richard); nephews, Charles Totten (Janet), John Totten, Christopher Turner (Barbara), Rayfield Turner, Jr., Michael Dodson and Larry Dodson; special friend, Delois Brown; a host of great-nieces, great-nephews, other relatives and friends.