Willie Morris Shelley

Willie Morris Shelley, 72, of Havelock, went home to be with his Lord on Sunday, April 2, 2023 at Durham VA Medical Center, surrounded by his loving family.

His funeral service with military honors, will be held at 2 p.m., Friday, April 7, 2023, at Munden Funeral Home in Havelock. The family will receive friends from 12:30 p.m. to 2 p.m., Friday, April 7, 2023 at Munden Funeral Home in Havelock.

Willie was a patriot and proudly served his country for 29 years in the United States Army. He entered active duty in September 1969 and retired in September 1998 as a Command Sergeant Major.

He served overseas in Vietnam, Germany, Southwest Asia, and Korea during his 29 year career. His assignments included the 1st Signal Brigade, the Institute of Administration, Headquarters United States Army Europe and 7th Army, 1st Specialist Operations Command, 4th Psychological Group, 573d Personnel Service Company, 18th Personnel Services Battalion and 8th Personnel Command.  His last assignment was serving as the Command Sergeant Major of Dragon Brigade, XVIII Airborne Corps and Fort Bragg.  He spent 18 of his 29 years on Fort Bragg with the XVIII Airborne Corps.

Willie was a graduate of the Sergeants Major Academy, Class 31, the Advanced Noncommissioned Officers Course, the Basic Noncommissioned Officers Course, the Basic Airborne Course, the Noncommissioned Officers Staff Course, and the Inspector General Course.

His awards and decorations included the Bronze Star Medal, the Meritorious Service Medal with five oak leaf clusters, the Army Commendation Medal with three oak leaf clusters, the Army Achievement Medal, the Good Conduct Medal - ninth award, the National Defense Service Medal with two service stars, the Vietnam Service Medal, the Saudi Arabia/Kuwait Liberation Medal, the Humanitarian Service Medal, and the Airborne Badge.

After retiring from the US Army, Willie worked as a Program Eligibility Specialist for the Craven County Department of Social Services before retiring again after 13 years of service.

Willie was born in Marion, SC, to the late Hoyt Shelley, Sr. and Capitola Murrow Capps. He is also preceded in death by his son, William Shelley, and brothers, Hoyt Shelley, Jr. and Johnny Monroe Shelley.

He is survived by his loving wife of 50 years, Hoa Shelley; daughters: Tammy Sherron (Scott) of Havelock, NC and Michelle LeBeau (Jason) of Tampa, FL; siblings: James Shelley (Wanda) of Elgin, SC, Carolyn Stone of Johnsonville, SC, Wanda Shelley of Marion, SC and Connie Shelley of Marion, SC; grandchildren: Griffin Sherron, Logan LeBeau and Lyla LeBeau.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association (ALZ.org) at 8180 Greensboro Drive, Suite 400, McLean, VA 22102 or to the Fisher House Foundation (fisherhouse.org) at P.O. Box 791598, Baltimore, MD 21279.

Family and friends are welcome to submit online condolences at www.mundenfuneralhome.net.

Arrangements by Munden Funeral Home & Cremations, Havelock, N.C.