Bernice Lax Maxwell Shackelford

Bernice Lax Maxwell Shackelford peacefully passed away on Saturday, March 12, 2016 at Baptist Reynolds Hospice House surrounded by family and the compassionate care of their exceptional staff.

She was born in Middleburg, TN, October 29, 1926 to Fitzsimmons Lax and Marian Gertrude Bryant Lax. She graduated from Central High School, Bolivar, TN in 1944 and attended business college in Memphis. She was employed at Millington Naval Base as Secretary to Chaplain Flowers.

She married James Malcolm Maxwell on July 19, 1947. He preceded her in death in 1984. She married Charles H. Shackelford in 1986, who died in 2014. She leaves two children, Teresa Theiner (Eric) of Collierville, TN and Jimmy Maxwell (Kathie) of Bolivar, TN including the grandchildren; Kristina Rogers (Mike), Laura Kane (Steve), Katie McLean (Spencer), Mary Margaret Lister (Jonathan), Caroline Maxwell, Cindy Theiner Stone (Ted), and Rick Theiner (Sharon) and eleven great grandchildren. She also leaves a step-daughter, Marcia Shackelford Rudzik (Frank) and their daughter Sara and her husband Burt, of Colorado. She also leaves a half-sister Margaret Parks (Billy) of Bolivar, TN.

She loved her family, her church, her friends and her community. She retired from Tenneco in Middleton, TN after 23 years of service. She was a member of First Baptist Church, Bolivar, TN, where she taught Sunday School, and was a member of the Golden Sounds Choir and the Keen-agers Senior Group. She was an avid reader and enjoyed gardening, needlework and boating at Pickwick. She also loved photography and taking pictures of all the events she attended. She was a volunteer at Western Mental Hospital and Pine Meadows Healthcare Center as well as other various charitable organizations. Bernice was beautiful, both inside and out, and people who knew her called her "A Classic Southern Lady".

Bernice and her family appreciated all the cards and visits during her brief illness. A special thank you to her caregivers, Marilyn Tackett and Harold Reynolds.

In lieu of flowers the family requests donations be sent in her honor to Union Cemetery, Bolivar, TN; First Baptist Church, Bolivar, TN; Middleburg Cemetery, Middleburg, TN; or a charity of the donor's choice.