Mary Louise Bernard Shelton

“Truly I tell you, Today you will be with Me in paradise.” Luke 23:43

Our beloved wife, mother, sister, cousin, and friend Mary Louise Bernard Shelton, 48, met her Lord and Savior on Sunday, May 24, as a result of a tragic automobile accident.

Mary Louise was born in Danville, VA, on August 19, 1977, the cherished daughter of the late Mary Catherine Chaney Edmunds and the late William Simpson Bernard, Sr. She was educated in Pittsylvania County Public Schools and graduated from J. Sargeant Reynolds Community College. She worked at Southern Virginia Mental Health Institute, and for the past 14 years at Sovah Health as a polysomnographic technologist (RPSGT). Mary Louise took great pride in helping her patients learn better sleep techniques to live healthier lives.

Mary Louise was the definition of an extrovert. Anyone who knew her knew she was the life of the party. She loved people, animals, travel and talking a mile a minute. She was quick-witted and adventurous. She was one of the most loyal people who valued those who cared for her; once her friend, always her friend. She loved deeply and was grateful for every day the Lord gave her to enjoy. She was of the Baptist faith.

She met her husband Rickie when she was 14 years old. They were married in 1995, became inseparable, carried the weight of life together, always respectful and consistently a team. She often said that Rickie was her rock, the person who saved her, loved her, supported her, and gave her the happiest days of her life. They would have celebrated their 30th wedding anniversary on July 13, 2026.

The absolute joys of her life were her four children: Rickie K. Shelton, Jr. (RJ), Mary Brooke Shelton, MacKennon Shelton, and Rayla Kay Shelton. No where in the world could you ever find a prouder, more attentive, more loving parent than Mary Louise. Her every day began and ended caring for these four special people.

Mary was the hub of her family circle. Every holiday, every birthday, and every celebration included dozens of family and friends packed into her great room and kitchen with Mary cooking, entertaining, wrapping gifts and taking pictures (hundreds and hundreds of photos) - to commemorate the occasion. “Family is everything” was one of her strongest beliefs.

Left on earth to miss her forever in addition to her children and her husband are her three brothers: Michael Dale Wheeler (Laurie); William S. (Billy) Bernard, IV; Dustin Lewis Bernard (Danielle); grandchildren: Mason Cole Shelton and Madelyn Gayle Shelton; her sister in love: Angie Shelton Burdette (Lee); her sister/cousin Cindy Robinette Woodward (Kent); uncle, George Lee Robinette; first cousins Sarah Robinette Michaels and Ruth Lee Robinette; mother in law Gladys Alease Nichols; brother in law John Shelton Jr.; several nieces and nephews and many good friends.

A celebration of her life will be held at 2 p.m. on Friday, May 29 at Townes Funeral Home, 215 West Main Street, Danville, VA. Visitation will be held immediately prior to the service from 1-2 p.m. Interment will be held immediately after the service at Highland Burial Park.

Flowers will be accepted and the family requests that memorial contributions be made to the Rayla K. Shelton Education Fund at Wells Fargo Bank or a charity of your choice.