Col. William H. Shackelford, US Army (Ret.)

Col. William H. Shackelford, US Army (Ret.), 97, passed away on November 24, 2025, in Mount Pleasant, SC. His graveside service with military honors will be held Wednesday, December 10, 2025 in Fort Jackson National Cemetery, 4170 Percival Rd., Columbia, SC at 12:00 noon.

Born on July 26, 1928, in Dunn, North Carolina, to the late William Francis Shackelford, and the late Bessie Orvin Shackelford, he spent his first years in the SC low country, moving several times as his father had to pursue employment during the Great Depression, attending elementary schools in four places. Following graduation from Charleston High School in 1945, he went to work with Southern Bell Telephone Co. to help support his family. He rose to the position of commercial office manager before pursuing a full-time career in SC Army National Guard.

Colonel Shackelford was a veteran of over 30 years of military service. He began his military career as an enlisted soldier rising to the rank of staff sergeant before graduating from Officer Candidate School (OCS) and being commissioned an infantry 2nd lieutenant. He served in increasingly responsible command and staff assignments at company, battalion, and brigade levels before becoming the chief of staff of the SCARNG in the office of the Adjutant General in 1977 until retiring in 1984.

He was an honor graduate of every Army school from OCS through the Command and General Staff College. His awards include the Legion of Merit, Meritorious Service Medal, Army Commendation Medal, among others. He was a recipient of the OCS Distinguished Alumni award and the Order of the Palmetto, the highest award of the state of SC.

Following retirement from the National Guard, he became the first executive director of the National Guard Association of SC (NGASC). Membership tripled to almost 8,000 during his 10-year tenure. He was a life member of NGASC and the National Guard Association of the US and was a recipient of their Distinguished Service Medal.

He was an Eagle Scout, member of the Order of the Arrow, a former scoutmaster and district director of the Boy Scouts of America.

A member of First Baptist Church of Newberry, he served as a deacon, church treasurer, teacher, and in numerous leadership positions. Prior to that he had been a deacon and teacher at Citadel Square Baptist Church in Charleston.

He has been a member of the Washington Light Infantry of Charleston since 1947 and is a recipient of their Meritorious Service Medal, a member of the Marion Marauders Society of Charleston, and was a three-time president of the Exchange Club of Newberry.

When he was 19 years old, he met and forever fell in love with the beautiful Charlotte Elizabeth (Beth) Smoak. Three years later they were united in marriage in Citadel Square Baptist Church in Charleston and began their long loving journey together of 75 years, and as parents of four wonderful children, grandparents of nine, and great grandparents of three.

He is survived by his beloved wife, Charlotte Elizabeth (Beth) Smoak Shackelford; children; Charlotte Timmerman (Claude), William (Bill) Jr. (Sandra), Marc (Julie), and Paul (Kristin); grandchildren, Clare (Cooper), Christopher (Michelle) and Chad (Jenn) Timmerman, Carlee, Katy, Kiira, Luke, and Mia Shackelford, Forrest Morton (Kellan), and great-grandchildren Ashley and Camden Timmerman, and Elwen Morton, and brother Carey Shackelford (Jan). In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his sisters, Frances Nunnery and Anne Ownbey.

Honorary pallbearers will be retired members of the SC National Guard and members of his Sunday school class.

Memorials may be made to the First Baptist Church, 1020 Boundary St, Newberry, SC 29108.

Arrangements are by J. Henry Stuhr, Inc., Mount Pleasant Chapel. A memorial message may be sent to the family on our website at www.jhenrystuhr.com.