Barbara Chunn Shackelford

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Barbara Ann Chunn Shackelford, 88 of Columbia and resident of Morning Pointe of Columbia, passed away peacefully, surrounded by her loving family as her battle with cancer ended Friday, October 20, 2023.

Barbara’s parents were Thomas H and Martha Ellen Butler Chunn of Columbia. Her grandparents were Harmon and Maggie Chunn of Columbia and John and Claudia Butler of the Carters Creek community in Maury County. She attended the Garden Street Presbyterian church in Columbia during her young life. Later she became active in the Methodist Church first in Lawrenceburg then in Mt Pleasant.

Funeral Services will be held Tuesday, October 24, 2023, at 2:00 P.M. at Oakes & Nichols Funeral Home with Reverend Eddie Watson officiating and eulogy by her beloved niece, Mary Beth West. Burial will follow in Rose Hill cemetery. Visitation will be Monday, October 23, 2023, from 4:00 P.M. until 7:00 P.M and Tuesday, October 24, 2023 from 12:00 P.M. until services begin at Oakes & Nichols Funeral Home on West 7th Street in Columbia TN. Online condolences may be submitted at www.oakesandnichols.com.  

Barbara was born March 5, 1935, at Kings Daughters Hospital in Columbia, grew up as a ‘Riverside Rat” in the 40’s and 50’s and graduated Columbia Central High Class of 1952. While she participated in many organizations in school, she seldom missed a Sub Deb or Cotillion Dance, always wearing beautiful dresses made by her mother and grandmothers. Her dance card was always full!

Barbara graduated from Columbia Business College then worked for South Central Bell as a telephone operator; she utilized several metal bowls with alarm clocks inside to ensure prompt arrival at work daily!

She married Wm. R Bill Shackelford in 1956 and started their life together, first operating Gray’s Coal Yard in Mt Pleasant until people stopped using coal for heat. They found a new opportunity and opened an MFA (later Shelter Insurance) agency in Lawrenceburg TN. They worked hard and built the business while Bill utilized his Auctioneering license to start Shackelford Insurance and Real Estate Company. Additionally, they owned the James Lawrence Restaurant in Lawrenceburg and expanded the insurance agency to other lines as they grew. Later, Barbara joined the AFLAC Insurance Company as a Cancer Insurance Specialist and retired after 20 years.

Barbara was the ray of sunshine to everyone she met. As an AFLAC representative she was known for wearing a butterfly pin on her shoulder and people remembered her by that. In Morning Pointe, she had a big smile for everyone, was the puzzle lady, bird feeding lady and Poster Child for Morning Pointe advertising campaigns.

Barbara was a member of the Columbia Chapter of United Daughters of the Confederacy and the Daughters of the American Revolution holding offices, working fundraisers and conducting home tours of local antebellum homes.

She is survived by three children, Martha (Mark) McCain of Florence AL; Wm. Sonny (Patricia) Shackelford of Culleoka; and John Shackelford of Columbia; grandchildren, Leslie Pruitt, Leah (Greg) Ginn, Cole Shackelford, Anna Shackelford, Jessica Shackelford, Jenny Evelyn Shackelford all of Columbia; Jason McCain of Mt. Pleasant; Tim McCain of Murfreesboro, TN; Patrick McCain of Klamath Falls, OR; great-grandchildren, Tyler Pruitt of Florence, AL; Briley Pruitt of Columbia; Hannah Ginn, Lauren Ginn,  Jace Seal all of Columbia; brother, Donald T (Nan) Chunn of Maryville, TN; niece Mary Beth (Charles) West of Maryville; and nephew, d Brian Chunn of Orlando, FL; special cousins, Susan Dillingham Stockard of Columbia; Mike Dillingham of Pulaski; Nancy Shapiro Carter of Columbia; cousin and lifelong best friend, host of cousins, friends and extended family so special but too numerous to mention.

She was preceded in death by husband, Bill Shackelford in 1993 and cherished grandson, William Ryan Shackelford in 1995.

Pallbearers will be Kent Cooper, Tony Massey, Harold Fry, Tyler Pruitt, Greg Ginn. Honorary pallbearers are Tyler Sneed and staff of Morning Pointe, her caregivers of Gentiva Hospice for the outstanding attention and care, Bridget Barger, her special friend.

Memorials may be made to the William Ryan Shackelford Golf Scholarship Fund C/O Columbia State Community College, Columbia TN or Mt Pleasant First United Methodist Church 202 South Main Street, Mt Pleasant TN.

The family is humbled by the outpouring of love and support during her illness, we are forever grateful.