Anita Shackelford Ross

Mrs. Anita Shackelford Ross, 71, of Atlanta, died Tuesday, April 29, 2014. Mrs. Ross graduated from Nathan Bedford Forrest High School in Jacksonville, Florida and attended Florida Southern University in Lakeland, Florida. Married in 1966 she worked to help her husband Glenn complete his graduation from Jacksonville University. After moving to Atlanta in 1969 she was an office manager several years before beginning a career in real estate sales and property management. She then became the owner and manager of Children's Academy of Northlake for ten years until its sale and her retirement in 2002. After retirement she continued to assist her husband in his commercial real estate development company.

Anita was past president of the Valley Garden Club in Atlanta. She made many new friends during her association with that club and took great pleasure for many years in the volunteer work sponsored by the club in a local nursing home.

She was a gourmet cook well studied under the guise of Ursula's Cooking School in Atlanta for seventeen years and also developed an enlightened palate. She loved entertaining and the Ross household was a popular location for amazing food and wine. She was also hostess for fifteen annual Hammer The Cellar parties, a tradition that will continue in her honor.

Mrs. Ross, also a cat lover, raised nine different kitties leaving behind Grover and Emma.

Anita and her husband were fortunate enough to travel extensively throughout the USA, Canada, the Caribbean, and Europe. They particularly enjoyed France and Italy for the food and wine, history and architecture. Long lunches at Michelin starred restaurants was a favorite pastime.

Anita can be described in many ways. In her youth attractive, sexy, feisty, cheerful, independent and a joy to be with. Later in life, while dealing with tough medical issues became more unselfish, giving, loving, and an incredible inspiration to many on handling adversity with class and a positive attitude. She never complained but lived life to the fullest.

Mrs. Ross is survived by her beloved husband of 48 years, Glenn S. Ross and her first cousin, Nancy Barbee Ross. Mrs. Ross was the daughter of the late John Ottis Shackelford and Laura Louise Grubbs Shackelford, both of Jacksonville, Florida.

Husband Glenn Ross is the most fortunate man on earth to have spent more than fifty years with her to live life together.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be to the Atlanta Humane Society, Attn: Memorial, 1565 Mansell Road, Alpharetta, GA 30009. They can also be made on line by going to AtlantaHumaneSociety.org and clicking on Memorial Donation or clicking on this link: http://atlantahumane.org/donate/ways-to-give

Visitation will be at A.S.Turner and Sons Funeral Home from 4pm to 6pm on
Saturday, May 3, 2014, 2773 North Decatur Road, Decatur, Georgia 30033, 404-292-1551.


Funeral Home:
A.S. Turner
2773 N. Decatur Road
Decatur, GA
30033