Beloved, long-time University of Montevallo Director of Public Relations and Columbus native Cynthia Shackelford, 59, passed away Wednesday morning following an illness.
“Cynthia has been a member of the University family for many years and will be missed by all of us, but especially by those with whom she worked in the Department of Public Relations,” said John W. Stewart, University of Montevallo president. “Cynthia”s legacy is the many publications, articles, announcements and news releases she prepared on behalf of her beloved Montevallo. By and through her work, her memory will live on.”
By all accounts, Shackelford, who began her work at the college in July 1993, was the University of Montevallo”s greatest advocate.
“It”s a tremendous loss for Montevallo and I feel very sad for the students who aren”t going to know her and get a chance to learn from her,” said David Clemons, who recently was named publisher at the Fort Payne, Ala., Times-Journal.
Shackelford graduated valedictorian of New Hope High School in 1970. Before going to Montevallo, she attended the University of Mississippi for Women, where she worked in public relations. She played on the national championship basketball team and graduated magna cum laude from MUW in 1974 and later earned her master”s degree from the University of Alabama.
Shackelford was hospitalized Feb. 27 after suffering from a stroke from which she never fully recovered.
Her mother, Louise Franks, told The Commercial Dispatch Saturday evening that her daughter was deeply passionate about her church, where she served as a deaconess, as well as the field of journalism and the many students and colleagues she mentored.
“She would help people out even when she didn”t feel well,” Franks said. “She was the most outgoing, loving person.”
She had a mischievous, fun-loving nature and never missed an opportunity to fish with her father before he passed away. A light-hearted prankster as a child, she often teased her two sisters by slipping frogs and worms down their shirts, her mother said.
“There was a deep, deep love there,” Franks said of Shackelford”s relationship with her siblings. “She had a happy life, and she loved living. She was just a ball of energy. There”ll never be another one like her. She was just one of a kind.”
Shackelford is preceded in death by her father, Manley “Mike” King Shackelford. She is survived by her mother and stepfather, Louise and Wesley Franks of New Hope; two sisters, Vallory Williamson Hardin of Meridian and Mae Elizabeth Shackelford Hudson of Frederick, Md.; her companion and partner, Meg Perkins Pepper; son, Nate Pepper; special friend, Rachel Eide of Columbus; and a host of nieces, nephews, friends and family who loved her dearly.
A memorial service for Shackelford will be held at the University of Montevallo”s Palmer Auditorium Wednesday at 3 p.m. and at St. Andrews Episcopal Church in Montevallo at 11 p.m. on Saturday.
Dispatch writer Carmen K. Sisson contributed to this story.
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