James H. Shelley

James Herbert Shelley, 66, passed away Wednesday, September 1, 2010 after fighting a courageous battle with cancer. The family will receive friends Saturday evening, September 4, at Bridgepointe, 100 Sunset Boulevard in West Columbia, 4-6 p.m. Services will be conducted at St. Luke United Methodist Church in Hartsville, SC on Sunday, September 5th at 3 p.m. The Rev. Dr. William R. Bouknight and Rev. Philip Thrailkill will officiate. Brown-Pennington-Atkins Funeral Home is serving the family. Jim was raised in Hartsville and graduated from Hartsville High School in 1961. He attended the University of South Carolina, graduating with a BA degree in English in 1965 and received his Juris Doctorate degree from the USC School of Law in 1968. While at USC, he was a member of Alpha Tau Omega Fraternity and was president of his Junior and Senior classes. He served in the US Army Reserves 1968-1975, and served as a drill sergeant. He followed in his father’s footsteps by joining Sonoco Products Company in 1969. He retired from Sonoco in 2003 as Staff Vice President of Employee Relations and Labor Counsel. He joined St. Luke United Methodist Church in 1969 and served on numerous boards and committees as well as serving as an MYF leader and Sunday School teacher. He was instrumental in founding the Hartsville YMCA and served as an officer and board chairman. In retirement he relocated from Hartsville to Columbia and continued to consult with Sonoco. In Columbia, he joined Shandon United Methodist Church and was a member of the Joy Sunday School Class. He loved his family and friends, especially his three beautiful granddaughters. He enjoyed all sports, followed the Gamecocks, and was an accomplished tennis player, biker, and swimmer. Born in Hartsville on October 12, 1943, Jim was the son of the late William Harrison Shelley and Elizabeth Garner Shelley. He is survived by his wife of 41 years, Patricia “Patti” Knight Shelley; daughters, Joy Rohrbaugh, (Rusty) of Greenville and Susan Kelley (Kevin) of Hartsville; granddaughters, Sloan and Sarah Rohrbaugh and Reese Kelley; sister, Beth Blakeney (Bill) of Hartsville; brother, Bill Shelley (Pat) of Hartsville; and nieces and nephews of whom he was very fond. Memorials may be made to Harvest Hope Food Bank, 2220 Shop Road, Columbia, SC 29201-5162, or the Oliver Gospel Mission, 1100 Taylor Street, Columbia, SC 29201-2810, or the Hartsville YMCA, 111 East Carolina Avenue, Hartsville, SC 29550-4213.

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James H. Shelley

October 12, 1943 - September 1, 2010