Shelton, John M.

Name: Shelton, John M.
Occupation: Carpenter
aka:
Sex: M
Birth: Abt. 1824
Death: 6 Sep 1895
Marker: No
Spouse(s): Rebecca Wood Shelton
Parents:
Children: William Henry Shelton, John Gibbons Shelton, Julia Shelton Fuller Mays
Affiliations: Founding Member, First Baptist Church, West Main
Notes: Undertaker – A C Mabrey

Although the Richmond Planet tells us that “He was laid to rest in a handsome black cloth casket, heavy silver-mounted handles,” we have not uncovered a marker for Mr. John M. Shelton. It is believed that he is buried alongside his wife, Mrs. Rebecca Shelton, whose Death Certificate lists Society Cemetery as her final resting place.

John and Rebecca Shelton’s son John Gibbons Shelton was the principal of Union Ridge/Albemarle Training School from 1903-1930. He also edited and published the Charlottesville Messenger, Charlottesville’s African American newspaper, from 1910 until about 1927.

Rebecca Fuller McGinness, the Sheltons’ granddaughter, daughter of Charles and Julia Shelton Fuller, lived to be 107 years old. She taught for many years at the Jefferson School and late in life, with Florence Bryant Coleman, she wrote a memoir, one of the best books available on the history of the African American community in Charlottesville. She spoke often and glowingly in her book of her grandparents, Rebecca and John Shelton, and told how they helped build the church:

“I love my church, First Baptist Church, almost as much as my grandmother loved it. She thought that there was nothing in the world like First Baptist. I guess it was because my grandparents were some of the founders of the church . . . My grandfather was a carpenter. After working all day, he and other former slaves worked on the church in the evening. The women took meals to the workers at the church.” (from Rebecca Fuller McGinness: A Lifetime, 1892-2000, pages 68-70)