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IN LOVING MEMORY OF J. Shelby Guss
J. Shelby
Guss
Dec 22, 1924 — Apr 23, 2012
J. Shelby Guss' Obituary
James Shelby Guss, affectionately known as "Shelby", of Caroline County passed away Monday, April 23, 2012.
He was born December 22, 1924 to the late Rev. E. L. R. and Clinice Hart Guss.
He completed his public education in Caroline County in 1940, entering Virginia Union University that same year. Shelby left school briefly to work to assist in paying for his sisters' education. He worked on the railroad from Fredericksburg, Virginia to Dahlgren, Virginia and at American Viscoe, (Sylvania Plant), in Fredericksburg, Virginia.
In 1943, Shelby was drafted into the U. S. Army Air Force, where he served at Keesler Field, in Mississippi. Shelby was also stationed in Georgia, Pennsylvania, and Washington State, before being stationed on Tinian Island, Japan. When his service in the military was over, Shelby was awarded the Bronze Star for serving in the Battle of the South Pacific.
After serving in the Army Air Force, Shelby returned to Virginia Union University graduating in 1948 with a B. A. in Sociology. Upon graduation from Virginia Union, Shelby accepted a teaching position at Union High School in Caroline County, where he taught for ten years. He later accepted the position of Principal at Union Elementary School. Shelby continued his education and received his master's degree in education from George Washington University
Shelby was a member, a Sunday school teacher, and an usher at Bethlehem Baptist Church in Caroline County, Virginia. He later moved his membership to First New Hope Baptist Church, where he was ordained as a Deacon. Shelby also attended St. John Baptist Church and, until his health failed him, he attended St. James Baptist Church in Caroline County.
Shelby was Chairman of the Democratic Committee, Past Master of Welcome Lodge 125 AFAM Masons, and Consultant on Desegregation for the U. S. Department of Labor. He was also a member of the Eastern Star and the NAACP. Winning a statewide election, Shelby, President of the Virginia Teacher's Association, was instrumental in its merger with the Virginia Education Association. Shelby served as Director of the UniServ Program and Director of Instruction for the Virginia Education Association. Shelby was appointed by Governor Godwin and the General Assembly to the Board of Visitors of Virginia State College and was elected Vice Rector of that Board.
Shelby also served as president of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc.; he was the first African-American to serve on the Rappahannock Electric Cooperative Board of Directors and to be elected Chairman of the Board; he was the recipient of the "Unsung Award" presented by the State Electric Cooperative Association. He also served on the Electricity Cost Commission.
As a result of his many contributions to his community and in the field of education, Shelby's name has been engraved on a black onyx memorial at Caroline County's Courthouse.
Shelby was preceded in death by his wife, Lavinia Anderson; an older sister, Rosa Evelyn Guss Brown, his younger sisters, Carmen Guss Williams, Anita Guss Chance, and one nephew, Wilbur Johnson Chance, Jr.
Shelby leaves to cherish his memory a devoted and loving sister and caregiver, Norma Guss Bell; nieces, Angela Chance Lewis and Wanda McDowell Williams (James); nephew, Daniel Dwight Williams (Anita); sisters-in-law, Mary Anderson, Hallie Marie Roane (Russell), Celestine Anderson, Anniebelle Holman (Oscar), Bernice Brown; brother-in-law John Anderson (Lena); devoted friends, John and Shirley Latney, and many other relatives and friends. William Arrington and Ricky Reid assisted Norma as caregivers for Shelby.
Remains may be viewed from noon to 4 p.m. Friday, April 27, 2012, at C. W. Edwards Funeral Home,16476 Richmond Turnpike, Bowling Green, Virginia 22427. A Christian Wake will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. at St. James Baptist Church, 19514 Sparta Road, Milford, Virginia 22514.
A Celebration of Life Service will be held 11 a.m. Saturday, April 28, at St. James Baptist Church, 19514 Sparta Road, Milford, Virginia 22514, with Reverend Dr. Charles F. Baugham delivering the eulogy.
Burial will be at the Guss Family Memorial Cemetery, First Baptist Church, 9262 Guinea Station Road, Woodford, Virginia 22580.
In lieu of flowers, the family has requested memorial donations may be made to The National Kidney Foundation, Finance Department, 30 East 33rd Street, New York, NY 10016 or the American Heart Association, 4217 Park Place Ct., Glen Allen, VA 23060
He was born December 22, 1924 to the late Rev. E. L. R. and Clinice Hart Guss.
He completed his public education in Caroline County in 1940, entering Virginia Union University that same year. Shelby left school briefly to work to assist in paying for his sisters' education. He worked on the railroad from Fredericksburg, Virginia to Dahlgren, Virginia and at American Viscoe, (Sylvania Plant), in Fredericksburg, Virginia.
In 1943, Shelby was drafted into the U. S. Army Air Force, where he served at Keesler Field, in Mississippi. Shelby was also stationed in Georgia, Pennsylvania, and Washington State, before being stationed on Tinian Island, Japan. When his service in the military was over, Shelby was awarded the Bronze Star for serving in the Battle of the South Pacific.
After serving in the Army Air Force, Shelby returned to Virginia Union University graduating in 1948 with a B. A. in Sociology. Upon graduation from Virginia Union, Shelby accepted a teaching position at Union High School in Caroline County, where he taught for ten years. He later accepted the position of Principal at Union Elementary School. Shelby continued his education and received his master's degree in education from George Washington University
Shelby was a member, a Sunday school teacher, and an usher at Bethlehem Baptist Church in Caroline County, Virginia. He later moved his membership to First New Hope Baptist Church, where he was ordained as a Deacon. Shelby also attended St. John Baptist Church and, until his health failed him, he attended St. James Baptist Church in Caroline County.
Shelby was Chairman of the Democratic Committee, Past Master of Welcome Lodge 125 AFAM Masons, and Consultant on Desegregation for the U. S. Department of Labor. He was also a member of the Eastern Star and the NAACP. Winning a statewide election, Shelby, President of the Virginia Teacher's Association, was instrumental in its merger with the Virginia Education Association. Shelby served as Director of the UniServ Program and Director of Instruction for the Virginia Education Association. Shelby was appointed by Governor Godwin and the General Assembly to the Board of Visitors of Virginia State College and was elected Vice Rector of that Board.
Shelby also served as president of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc.; he was the first African-American to serve on the Rappahannock Electric Cooperative Board of Directors and to be elected Chairman of the Board; he was the recipient of the "Unsung Award" presented by the State Electric Cooperative Association. He also served on the Electricity Cost Commission.
As a result of his many contributions to his community and in the field of education, Shelby's name has been engraved on a black onyx memorial at Caroline County's Courthouse.
Shelby was preceded in death by his wife, Lavinia Anderson; an older sister, Rosa Evelyn Guss Brown, his younger sisters, Carmen Guss Williams, Anita Guss Chance, and one nephew, Wilbur Johnson Chance, Jr.
Shelby leaves to cherish his memory a devoted and loving sister and caregiver, Norma Guss Bell; nieces, Angela Chance Lewis and Wanda McDowell Williams (James); nephew, Daniel Dwight Williams (Anita); sisters-in-law, Mary Anderson, Hallie Marie Roane (Russell), Celestine Anderson, Anniebelle Holman (Oscar), Bernice Brown; brother-in-law John Anderson (Lena); devoted friends, John and Shirley Latney, and many other relatives and friends. William Arrington and Ricky Reid assisted Norma as caregivers for Shelby.
Remains may be viewed from noon to 4 p.m. Friday, April 27, 2012, at C. W. Edwards Funeral Home,16476 Richmond Turnpike, Bowling Green, Virginia 22427. A Christian Wake will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. at St. James Baptist Church, 19514 Sparta Road, Milford, Virginia 22514.
A Celebration of Life Service will be held 11 a.m. Saturday, April 28, at St. James Baptist Church, 19514 Sparta Road, Milford, Virginia 22514, with Reverend Dr. Charles F. Baugham delivering the eulogy.
Burial will be at the Guss Family Memorial Cemetery, First Baptist Church, 9262 Guinea Station Road, Woodford, Virginia 22580.
In lieu of flowers, the family has requested memorial donations may be made to The National Kidney Foundation, Finance Department, 30 East 33rd Street, New York, NY 10016 or the American Heart Association, 4217 Park Place Ct., Glen Allen, VA 23060
To send flowers or plant a memorial tree in memory, please visit our flower store.
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