Peggy Lynn Shelton Shaw

Peggy Lynn Shelton Shaw, 85, passed away at the Greeneville Community Hospital on March 9, 2026 after losing a recent battle with pneumonia. Peggy was born in Greeneville, TN to Talmadge Glenn Shelton and Alma Pauline Gibson Shelton and lived her early life on the family dairy farm. Peggy graduated from Doak High School in 1958, received her B.A. degree from East Tennessee State University (ETSU) in 1961, and her M.A. degree in 1974. Peggy married Robert “Denver” Shaw on August 18, 1961, and they made their lifelong home and raised their two daughters, Aleeta Shaw and Nancy Shaw-Hutsell, in the Horse Creek community of Chuckey, TN. Peggy was a well-known teacher in the Greene County Schools system for 32 years with her career beginning at Chuckey School, but she spent the bulk of her career teaching Kindergarten at Doak School. Along with their full-time jobs, Peggy and Denver bought and worked a farm alongside Denver’s parents and brother.
Peggy was preceded in death by her parents, Talmadge Glenn Shelton and Alma Pauline Shelton, and her brother-in-law, Howard Shaw, whom many have joked that she married at the same time as Denver. Peggy is survived by her husband, Robert “Denver” Shaw, her oldest daughter Aleeta Shaw (Cody Storm), and her youngest Nancy Shaw-Hutsell (Caleb Hutsell). Mama Peggy is also survived by the lights of her life--her grandchildren-- Eli Barbour (Alison Colby), Emmalee Ruth Barbour, Aidan Storm, Lacie Odham Buchanan (Timothy and son Trevor), and she gained two step-grandchildren, Jabob Hutsell (Chrisalyne and baby Baylor) and Kaylee Hutsell. Peggy is also survived by her siblings Sue Shelton Baskette (CW), Charles Shelton (Christine), and Gail Shelton Gregory along with nieces and nephews, Michael Baskette (Robin), Dan Baskette (Cassie), Michelle Fuller (Donald), and Regina Clouse (Fred). Peggy is also survived by special friends, Brenda Jones, Anne Brown, Louise Wilhoit, Pam Sizemore, Alice Hensley, Christopher Woods, and many, many others, along with her caretakers and daily companions, Chelsea Pate and Donna Coyne.
After her retirement in 1993, Peggy was able to indulge in her hobbies and interests on a full-time basis. Peggy credited her mother-in-law, Ruth Shaw, with teaching her to cook, and she was a renowned home cook--making everything from her Southern specialties to special treats for her family and friends for all special occasions. Her kitchen and garage are full of every cooking gadget ever invented. Serving food also meant serving it in an environment decorated for every occasion and holiday. Peggy and her “Sister Sisters” all enjoyed decorating and frequently tried to out decorate each other. Her kitchen gadget collection is surpassed only by her home décor items which fill every closet and dozens of bins throughout the house. Peggy especially loved flowers of all kinds and loved keeping her garden, porch, and home full of blooms at all times. Peggy and her friend, Carol Wilhoit, along with other friends traveled to every state in the US including Hawaii and Alaska, much of Canada, and parts of Mexico via coach bus. After his own retirement, Denver started to tag along for many of the trips. Peggy developed an artistic talent at a young age and enjoyed painting and drawing for all of her life. She was thrilled to learn that her granddaughter Emmalee inherited her talent, and they attended several painting classes and worked together on their art. Peggy was also able to put her education and teaching talent to use in her retirement and co-taught the Adult Sunday School Class at Cedar Grove United Methodist Church for many years where she also kept the sanctuary decorated and set the alter according to the liturgical calendar of the Methodist Church. Peggy’s greatest talent in life though was her connection to people of all ages—children in her classroom, neighbors, friendships that spanned her entire life or a only for a season, strangers in line at Walmart, fellow bus tour travelers, attendees of bluegrass festivals—give her five minutes and she would find that point of connection between everyone.
The family will receive friends Thursday, March 12, 2026 from 3:30pm-6:30pm at Jeffers Funeral Home in Afton and Friday from 10:00am to 11:00am at Cedar Grove Church. The funeral will be held at 11:00am at Cedar Grove Church followed by the graveside service at Cedar Grove Cemetery. Pallbearers will be C.W. Baskette, Aidan Storm, Cody Storm, Caleb Hutsell, Kelly Ricker, and Chris Wilhoit, and honorary pallbearer Eli Barbour.
If you would prefer to make a donation in lieu of flowers, it can be made to the Cedar Grove Cemetery Fund in care of Louise Wilhoit at 2275 Old Jonesborough Hwy, Chuckey, TN, 37604.