Pauline Elizabeth Shelton Boxley, a beloved educator, community leader, and cherished family member, peacefully transitioned on May 14, 2025, at the age of 98 at Spotsylvania Regional Medical Center, Fredericksburg, Virginia.  Born on March 21, 1927, Pauline was the second youngest of eleven children born to Edward Lee and Willie Leatha Shelton in Buckingham County, Virginia.

After matriculating through the Buckingham County schools, she wanted excitement, so she went to live with her aunt in West New York, New Jersey and started working in a factory during World War II with the ambition of being a nurse.  Living in the New York City area with most of her siblings, her aunt told her this was too much for a country girl and highly encouraged her to go back to school in Virginia.  She started at Virginia State College in 1944 seeking a home economics degree.  There she first saw the eventual love of her life, Lloyd Boxley.  Having only brief encounters with Lloyd, upon graduation she never realized her first job would be at Union High School in Caroline County, where she and Lloyd reunited again.  On December 29, 1949, she married Lloyd, and they lived happily for 56 years until his death in 2005.

Pauline worked for over 50 years in the Caroline County School system from segregation to integration. At the age of 59, she went back to school to receive her master's degree from Virginia Commonwealth University.  She loved working with children, both in the school system and also in her church, St John Baptist Church, Woodford, Virginia.

During her time at St John, she became a Deaconess, missionary, tutor, and fundraiser at the church.  Through her years at St. John, she prepared meals during Third Sunday Homecoming and served with the other families outside behind the church; came during the week to help young church members with schoolwork; called many people in the community to donate clothes, goods, and money to different church campaigns; and was a staunch supporter of the Pastors and their wives.  She was readily seen faithfully sitting with the Deaconesses in the front of the church until her death.

Her sense of duty extended into the broader community where she made an impact through her involvement with the Welcome Chapter #129 Order of the Eastern Star (Past Worthy Matron), American Cancer Society, Rappahannock Community Services Board, Caroline County Alumni Chapter of Virgina State University, Caroline Chapter of the NAACP, Virginia Education Association, and a beloved local organization of Caroline Leaders named Club 18.

In addition to her parents, Pauline was preceded in death by her devoted husband, Lloyd Boxley and her siblings: James Shelton, Robert Lee Shelton, Martha Jones, John Shelton, Mack Shelton, Leatha Cave, Emmaline Shelton, Lillie DeChalus, Haywood Shelton, and Mary Jones.

She is survived by her children, Janet Diane Burnett (Robert) and Lloyd L. Boxley, Jr; four grandchildren, Tracy Burnett, Danielle Burnett, Lianne Boxley, and Christian Boxley, and a host of nieces, nephews, and cousins.

Pauline will be remembered fondly for her unwavering love, kindness, dedication, generosity, dedication, and service. She was known for her ability getting things done, helping people whenever and wherever she could.  She always offered a soft voice to anyone who wanted talk or listen.

I've learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.

Maya Angelou

A viewing will be held from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. on Friday May 23, 2025, at C. W. Edwards Funeral Home, Inc., 16476 Richmond Turnpike, Bowling Green, Virginia, 22427.

A Celebration of Life Service will be held at 1:00 p.m. on Saturday, May 24, 2025, at St. John Baptist Church, 17080 South River Road, Woodford, Virginia 22580, with a viewing one hour prior to the service. Interment will follow in the church cemetery.