Luellen Gail Shealy

Our beautiful mother, Gail Shealy, 85, peacefully passed away at her beach house in North Myrtle Beach on Friday, March 20, 2026, surrounded by love and family. Visitation will begin at 10:00 am at Shives Funeral Home, located at 7600 Trenholm Road Ext., Columbia, followed by her funeral service at 11:00 am in the Shives Chapel. Pastor Terry Amick will officiate. At noon, a burial service will commence at Fort Jackson National Cemetery where she’ll be laid to rest with her beloved husband, Claude A. Shealy, Sr.

Gail was born on November 12, 1940, in Mullins, West-by-God Virginia. She didn’t believe there was a state as simple as West Virginia. She was the only child of Ethel Grey Kidd and Lorenzo Ralph Lusk, and was predeceased by her half-sister, Katherine “Kitty” Byrd. She had many wonderful cousins, aunts, and uncles.

Mom and her parents moved to South Carolina when she was fourteen years old. She attended Dreher High School where she met Dad. They were married on her senior year spring break on April 3, 1958. Their union was blessed with four children, whom they dearly loved. Dad worked thirty-seven years at the State Treasurer’s Office while also proudly serving his country in the United States Air Force, so Mom could stay home and be involved in their children's lives. Mom devoted her life to raising her children with a strong sense of faith, love, and to be a close knit family. After the birth of her first grandson, she became known as “Boo”, which is what everyone called her.

Boo was a force to be reckoned with who loved her family and friends with passion. She never met a stranger who didn’t fall in love with her. She was passionate about her beach, but missed her mountains. When Boo had a little spare time, she enjoyed playing with plants, dabbling in oil painting, and going to flea markets searching for another “Boo’s Treasure.” Mom’s true life enjoyment was reading books, often completing one in a day.

Mom’s lifetime at the beach was truly extended by the love and care of special friends and neighbors who loved her as we did. Pam and Don, Rose and Angelo, Jeff, Faith, and James and Brittany, who were our eyes and ears when we couldn’t be there.

Boo is survived by her four children, Melinda (Coulter) Cotton, Lisa (Rex) Wicker, Claude A. Shealy, Jr., and Lori (David) Parker; her grandchildren, Kayla Evans, Scott (Elizabeth) Parker, Erin (Matt) Forsell, Ethan (Kaylee) Shealy, Emma (David) McCaghren, and Michael (Jenna) Cotton. She was the proud great grandmother of Roman and Ryan Parker, Jackson and Maddox Evans, Harper Grace Shealy, Coleman Towers, Dalton Frank McCaghren, and soon-to-arrive Mabel Luellen McCaghren. She is further survived by her silky terrier, Nola Blue, her constant and faithful companion for seven years.

In lieu of flowers, the family respectfully requests you spend time with your family, friends and pets. Hug them and tell them how much they mean to you.