Dorsey Allen Shelley died on Friday, July 8, 2022, at John D. Archbold Memorial Hospital after a lengthy illness. He was born September 27, 1940, in Pavo, Georgia, to Lou Berne Allen Shelley and Dorsey Elwyn Shelley, making him an 8th generation citizen of Thomas County. His parents intended him to be called D.A., but he was known to all childhood friends and family as Dorsey Allen.
He and his mother returned to live on the family farm in Coolidge in 1945. There he was nurtured by his devoted and beloved grandparents, Ella Wilda and Gillum Allen and enjoyed the nearby company of his Uncle Ellis and Aunt Ernestine Allen and cousin Jonnie Allen. His Grandpa read him Uncle Wiggily stories and his Grandma took him along to deliver meals to sick neighbors and to clean cemetery plots. He remained his Grandma’s sidekick for all his childhood, going along on hat-shopping trips; learning to operate a sewing machine by watching her; and accompanying her to missionary association meetings. At the age of 12, following his Grandpa’s death, he began driving her to Sings at country churches all over the area.
In 1961, he married Patricia Anne Clements who survives him. He is also survived by daughters Angela Shelley and Marcia Shelley Millere and son Allen Patrick Shelley; grandchildren Keith Shelley, Saralyn Shelley, Abigail Moody, Rosalie Millere, and Ella Millere; by son-in-law Edmond Millere, daughter-in-law Tonja Mobarry; and brother-in-law and sister-in-law James H. Clements and Joyce Hayes Clements. He is also survived by a half-brother Wynton Shelley and half-sisters Kaye Caldwell, Linda Hopper, and Elaine Whitmore. He was preceded in death by daughters Melanie Lynne Shelley and Maria Annelle Shelley.
Dorsey attended all twelve grades at Coolidge School, where he played varsity basketball and was a cheerleader. He was a member of the Future Farmers of America, and raised the 1957 FFA grand reserve champion hog for the state of Georgia. He graduated with the last class in 1958, when the school closed. He managed to switch places in the commencement line so that he would receive his diploma last and so became the final graduate of Coolidge Consolidated High School. He spent a year at Norman College in Norman Park, Georgia, and then attended meat-cutting school in Toledo, Ohio.
After trying his hand at meat-cutting, insurance sales, and other endeavors, Dorsey joined the Thomasville Fire Department in 1965. His character of service to others was most evident in his 33-year career as a firefighter. He strongly believed in protecting both the community and his brother firefighters. His men praised his vast knowledge of firefighting best practices that he used in mentoring young firefighters and in improving the Department. He prided himself on upholding safety standards and made it a priority to ensure that all his crew returned safely to their families.
Dorsey was diligent in ensuring the Department had a file of blueprints for all major structures in the city, thereby providing faster and safer responses. In 1971 he helped form Local 2084 of the International Association of Firefighters, and was elected its first president. As president he helped organize the firefighters to strike for more equitable pay and better working conditions and to resist dual training of firefighters as police officers. He moved up the ranks in the fire service and was awarded Fireman of the Year in 1992. He retired as Deputy Chief in 1998.
Dorsey was a lifelong learner and known to be able to share an intelligent conversation with almost anyone on almost any subject. After retirement, he discovered genealogy and quietly and diligently researched several branches of his and Pat’s family trees, traveling throughout the southeast to meet relatives who could share their own research. They visited cemeteries, libraries, and archives in several states to locate and document resources. Dorsey enjoyed sharing the results of his research with his children, grandchildren, and other relatives. He developed an especially close relationship with his cousin Dinah McMillan Kahler through their shared love of genealogy. He was also able to enjoy traveling on sales calls with Pat and devoting much time as the greatest grandpa ever. He loved his five grandchildren ferociously and was so very proud of each of them. He continued to pray for them and give thanks for them daily as long as he could speak.
The funeral service will be Friday, July 15, at 10 a.m. at Coolidge Baptist Church, 2068 East Verbena Avenue, Coolidge, Georgia. The coffin will be open the hour before the service begins. Burial will follow at Big Ochlocknee Cemetery, 1757 Beeline Road, Coolidge. The Rev. Clay Phillips and Angela Shelley will officiate. Members of the Thomasville Fire Department will serve as pallbearers. For the safety and health of all, the family requests that all wear masks at the church service.
The family wishes to thank William Cooper, M.D., William Ellis, M.D., Raul Santos, M.D., and Hisa Willis, R.M.A., for their professional and compassionate care of Dorsey during his lifetime.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Mount Zion Cemetery Fund at Mount Zion PB Church, 1800 Highway 202, Meigs, GA 31765.
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Dorsey Allen Shelley, please visit our flower store.
He and his mother returned to live on the family farm in Coolidge in 1945. There he was nurtured by his devoted and beloved grandparents, Ella Wilda and Gillum Allen and enjoyed the nearby company of his Uncle Ellis and Aunt Ernestine Allen and cousin Jonnie Allen. His Grandpa read him Uncle Wiggily stories and his Grandma took him along to deliver meals to sick neighbors and to clean cemetery plots. He remained his Grandma’s sidekick for all his childhood, going along on hat-shopping trips; learning to operate a sewing machine by watching her; and accompanying her to missionary association meetings. At the age of 12, following his Grandpa’s death, he began driving her to Sings at country churches all over the area.
In 1961, he married Patricia Anne Clements who survives him. He is also survived by daughters Angela Shelley and Marcia Shelley Millere and son Allen Patrick Shelley; grandchildren Keith Shelley, Saralyn Shelley, Abigail Moody, Rosalie Millere, and Ella Millere; by son-in-law Edmond Millere, daughter-in-law Tonja Mobarry; and brother-in-law and sister-in-law James H. Clements and Joyce Hayes Clements. He is also survived by a half-brother Wynton Shelley and half-sisters Kaye Caldwell, Linda Hopper, and Elaine Whitmore. He was preceded in death by daughters Melanie Lynne Shelley and Maria Annelle Shelley.
Dorsey attended all twelve grades at Coolidge School, where he played varsity basketball and was a cheerleader. He was a member of the Future Farmers of America, and raised the 1957 FFA grand reserve champion hog for the state of Georgia. He graduated with the last class in 1958, when the school closed. He managed to switch places in the commencement line so that he would receive his diploma last and so became the final graduate of Coolidge Consolidated High School. He spent a year at Norman College in Norman Park, Georgia, and then attended meat-cutting school in Toledo, Ohio.
After trying his hand at meat-cutting, insurance sales, and other endeavors, Dorsey joined the Thomasville Fire Department in 1965. His character of service to others was most evident in his 33-year career as a firefighter. He strongly believed in protecting both the community and his brother firefighters. His men praised his vast knowledge of firefighting best practices that he used in mentoring young firefighters and in improving the Department. He prided himself on upholding safety standards and made it a priority to ensure that all his crew returned safely to their families.
Dorsey was diligent in ensuring the Department had a file of blueprints for all major structures in the city, thereby providing faster and safer responses. In 1971 he helped form Local 2084 of the International Association of Firefighters, and was elected its first president. As president he helped organize the firefighters to strike for more equitable pay and better working conditions and to resist dual training of firefighters as police officers. He moved up the ranks in the fire service and was awarded Fireman of the Year in 1992. He retired as Deputy Chief in 1998.
Dorsey was a lifelong learner and known to be able to share an intelligent conversation with almost anyone on almost any subject. After retirement, he discovered genealogy and quietly and diligently researched several branches of his and Pat’s family trees, traveling throughout the southeast to meet relatives who could share their own research. They visited cemeteries, libraries, and archives in several states to locate and document resources. Dorsey enjoyed sharing the results of his research with his children, grandchildren, and other relatives. He developed an especially close relationship with his cousin Dinah McMillan Kahler through their shared love of genealogy. He was also able to enjoy traveling on sales calls with Pat and devoting much time as the greatest grandpa ever. He loved his five grandchildren ferociously and was so very proud of each of them. He continued to pray for them and give thanks for them daily as long as he could speak.
The funeral service will be Friday, July 15, at 10 a.m. at Coolidge Baptist Church, 2068 East Verbena Avenue, Coolidge, Georgia. The coffin will be open the hour before the service begins. Burial will follow at Big Ochlocknee Cemetery, 1757 Beeline Road, Coolidge. The Rev. Clay Phillips and Angela Shelley will officiate. Members of the Thomasville Fire Department will serve as pallbearers. For the safety and health of all, the family requests that all wear masks at the church service.
The family wishes to thank William Cooper, M.D., William Ellis, M.D., Raul Santos, M.D., and Hisa Willis, R.M.A., for their professional and compassionate care of Dorsey during his lifetime.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Mount Zion Cemetery Fund at Mount Zion PB Church, 1800 Highway 202, Meigs, GA 31765.
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