With family holding her hands, Jean Elizabeth Hogge Shackelford crossed from this world into glory, rejoicing with the great choir of saints in the nearer presence of her Lord Jesus on the evening of January 6, 2025. She was 95 years old. Though her physical body had weakened, Jean lived every day to her last with a full heart, a clear mind, a sharp sense of style, and a full calendar of activities. Born on July 3, 1929, Jean was a native of Perrin in Gloucester County, Virginia—the only daughter to the late Zennie Robins and Otis Hogge. Her childhood was filled with joyful memories of days shared with cousins, close neighbors, and classmates at Achilles High School. Pursuing her passion for music and teaching, Jean earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from Longwood University in 1950 and a Master of Education from the College of William & Mary in 1967. Jean married her college sweetheart, James Earl Shackelford, on the lawn of her home on the Perrin River on July 3, 1950. The newlyweds moved directly to Portsmouth, where Jean remained for 71 years. Her first role was as a teacher for six years at John Tyler Elementary School, then as Acting Principal for a short term before maternity leave. Their daughter, Rhonda, was born in May of 1957. In all, Jean served 35 years with the Portsmouth Public Schools, but her legacy extends well beyond, inspiring countless students and teachers through her leadership in Music and the Arts. One of Jean’s fondest memories came in 1982 when she helped to establish (along with colleagues Bill Griggs, Bruce Frazier, and Olga Morales) the “Able & Ambitious Musical Theater Program.” This endeavor catapulted a new curriculum for a highly comprehensive music instructional program in the schools. Jean served on the Founding Board of the Governor’s School for the Arts, as an award-winning Advisor to the Music Department at Longwood University, as President of the Board of Portsmouth Community Concerts, and as a member of the Portsmouth Museum and Fine Arts Commission, which puts on the annual Seawall Arts Show to this day. Among her greatest joys was her 30 years of involvement with Young Audiences of Virginia, where she served on the Board of Directors and as President. After retiring in 1989, Jean served 11 years as Legislative Liaison at the General Assembly in cooperation with the Virginia Department of Education, where she established the Virginia Coalition for Arts Education, which exists today. She returned home to become an elected member of the Portsmouth School Board for eight years. In her retirement, she loved gardening and singing in the choir at Churchland Baptist Church, where she had been a member for 65 years. One of her greatest joys has been her involvement with the Elizabeth River Garden Club and the Flower Guild girls at Westminster-Canterbury. Jean Shackelford is survived by her daughter, Rhonda Byrd, and her son-in-law Mark, whom she adored; her two grandchildren, Ross Byrd and his wife Hannah and Caroline Byrd Dozier and her husband Blake; and her eight great-grandchildren, Ila, Susannah, Samuel and Isaiah Byrd, and Luke, Virginia, Annabelle and David Dozier; and her cousin, Mildred Hogge, with whom she remained dear friends. Close Gloucester family members from the Shackelford and Hogge sides were also dear to her heart. Jean was preceded in death by her kind and loving husband, James Earl Shackelford. A service celebrating Jean’s Life of Music and Memory will be held this Sunday, January 19, 2025, at Churchland Baptist Church, 3031 Churchland Blvd., Chesapeake, Va. 23321. The family will receive friends from 1:30-2:30 p.m., with the funeral service at 2:30. Interment will follow in the church cemetery. There will be a reception following in the Church Social Hall. Memorial contributions may be given to the Elizabeth River Garden Club or the Churchland Baptist Music Memorial Fund.

Services under the direction of Hogg Funeral Home.