Otis Shelton

Otis Shelton, Sr. was born on December 25, 1926 to Johnny Malone and Almotie Shelton- Smith in Noxubee County, Mississippi.
He departed this life on Monday, October 27, 2014 in Cincinnati, Ohio.
Otis joined Union Missionary Baptist Church at an early age. He was a faithful member of Oakland Missionary Baptist Church for many years where he served as a member of the Male Chorus and as a Trustee.
Otis worked for Kerr McGee for over 40 years. While he was there, he ensured that all the young people in the neighborhood worked during the summer. After he retired from Kerr McGee, he drove the school bus for Lowndes County.
Otis had a great love for baseball and for his favorite team, the Atlanta Braves. He was a baseball coach for his sons and many youth in the neighborhood.
Otis was united in Holy Matrimony to Iola Vaughn on January 17, 1944 and to that union, seven children were born: Rhoda, John, Victoria, Otis Jr., Ada, George and Kermit. They also raised Rhoda’s son, Bennie Ray as their own child.
Otis was preceded in death by his father, Johnny Malone; mother, Almotie Shelton- Smith; wife, Iola Shelton; daughter, Rhoda Shelton; son, John Shelton; six brothers and one sister.
He leaves to cherish his memory: his children, Victoria Selvie, Otis Shelton, Jr., George Shelton (Connie) and daughter-in-law, Mary Shelton of Cincinnati, Ohio, Ada Shelton of Atlanta, Georgia, Kermit Shelton (Ethel) and Bennie Ray Shelton (Nina) of Crawford, Mississippi; sisters, Bernice Calmes and Earnestine Hairston; brothers, JW Smith (Essie), Jesse Smith and Peter Smith, Jr. (Shirley); 14 grandchildren and a host of great and great-great- grandchildren, nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.