Rev. Dumas B. Shelnutt, Sr.

The Rev. Dumas B. Shelnutt, Sr., 85, died May 30 at Budd Terrace at Wesley Woods in Atlanta, Georgia. He was born on February 19, 1920, in Franklin, Georgia, the fourth son of the late John Amos and Winnie Mae Gentry Shelnutt. He was a graduate of Centralhattchee High School in Heard County and then attended Young Harris College, Georgia State University, Emory University, and received his divinity degree from Boston University. Rev. Shelnutt felt called to ministry while a young boy in elementary school. He spent his life as an ordained United Methodist minister serving the following appointments: Elizabeth circuit in Marietta, Hiram First, Fairmount, Sandy Springs, Martha Brown, Gainesville First, Rome district superintendent, Griffin First, Atlanta-Southwest district superintendent, Atlanta-Emory district superintendent, and Embry Hills. He retired in June 1986, and assisted in ministry at North Fayette United Methodist Church for many years. As a member of the North Georgia Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church for over 50 years, he served on numerous boards and agencies and was a delegate to both general and jurisdictional conferences. He was married to the former Texana Ruff of Acworth, Georgia. Their four children are: Mr. and Mrs. Drew (Jan Shelnutt) Whalen of Griffin, Georgia, Dr. and Mrs. Carl (Debbie Shelnutt) Williams of Oglethorpe, Georgia, The Rev. Dr. and Mrs. D.B. (Kandy) Shelnutt, Jr. of Alpharetta, Georgia, and Mr. and Mrs. Mark (Chris) Shelnutt of Columbus, Georgia. His brother is Rev. Fred G. Shelnutt of Franklin, Georgia. There are ten grandchildren. Following a private family burial in Powder Springs, Georgia, a memorial service will be held Thursday, June 2, at 2:00 at Embry Hills United Methodist Church in Atlanta, Georgia with Rev. Mark Westmoreland, Rev. Fred Shelnutt, Rev. Charles Barnes, and Bishop L. Bevel Jones officiating. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Dumas B. Shelnutt, Sr., scholarship fund at Young Harris College: Post Office Box 98, Young Harris, Georgia 30582. The family will receive friends from 6 to 9 PM Wednesday, June 1 at A. S. Turner & Sons.