Kiwanis Club of Omaha Westside

by David This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it Jacksonville News 8 hrs ago | 127 views | 0   | 0   |   |  Members of Jacksonville’s Kiwanis Club gathered together Wednesday for their first meeting of February. It was the first meeting since the news that James Shelton had passed away. Shelton was a member of the service club for 26 years.As the meeting started, Kiwanians fixed their plate of food, sat down and started talking. The stories and memories of Shelton started to flow. “James was one of the most dependable guys in our club,” said Jim Wilson. “Even after he was sick, when he knew it was his time to bring a speaker, even through he knew he couldn’t come, he would line somebody up.”Shelton received Kiwanian of the Year in 1979. In 1992, he was awarded the Book of Golden Deeds Award by the Jacksonville Exchange Club.“He was a very even … very gentle guy,” said Wilson. “I think he was a fellow that everybody liked. I never heard anything negative about James Shelton.”Wilson went on to describe Shelton as “a gentleman” who was “a rock in the community.” Anyone who knew Shelton was aware of his love for the people of Jacksonville – young and old.“I remember he would always want us to cooperate with officer Sam Samson’s Christmas charity,” said club member Bob Ford. “Because it dealt with kids, it was one of James’ favorite projects.”Ford also worked with Shelton on the community food delivery program – Meals on Wheels.“He was very active with us at Meals on Wheels. When I started there, he was delivering,” said Ford. “But, he was also the treasurer for many years. He did a great job with both of those.”Shelton started with Meals on Wheels in 1991. In 1997, he was named the organization’s Volunteer of the Year.A giver to the end, in lieu of flowers, Shelton wanted donations to be made to Jacksonville Meals On Wheels, or Jacksonville Christian Outreach Center.Shelton was born September 4, 1915, in Lamar County. At the age of two the family moved to Pickens County, were he grew up and attended school. At a camp meeting in 1923, James and his father joined Andrews Chapel Methodist Church. Shelton was a member of Jacksonville First United Methodist Church since 1946. He was a graduate of Hinds Junior College, Auburn University and Jacksonville State University. He was also a veteran of World War II serving at the Tank Gunnery School in Fort Knox, Kentucky and at Leyta in the Philippine Islands. After the war he worked six years for the Veteran Farm Training Program as instructor and supervisor over 12 counties in Northeast Alabama. Shelton retired as an Education Specialist at Fort McClellan in 1975. In the 1970s, Shelton was appointed as mayor of Jacksonville for a brief period.Shelton will be remembered as someone who loved his rose garden and as someone who loved to get outside and walk. But, what he will probably be best remembered for was the attitude he had on life. “He loved to joke and laugh,” said Ford.“He always had a smile on his face,” said Kiwanis Club member Truman Norred. “When he met you, he always acted like he met a long lost friend. It would be like he hadn’t seen you in years. You would always want to run into him because he would make you feel good just the way he greeted you.”

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