Shelton Higgins

Garner - Shelton Lee Higgins aged 89, passed away on January 24, 2025 at his home. He was born on August 6, 1935 in Johnston County, North Carolina to Noah Floyd Higgins and Penny Ruby Stephenson Higgins who preceded him in death. His sister, Shirley Jean Higgins Sandy, also preceded him in death.

Shelton is survived by his wife of 65 years, Peggy Byrd Higgins; daughter, Yvonne Michelle "Shelley" Higgins; grandson, Jesse Faircloth; brother-in-law, George Sandy; sisters-in-law, Edith Honeycutt and Bonnie Knowles; two aunts and several cousins, nieces and nephews.

Shelton, who grew up on a farm in Johnston County, loved the outdoors, hunting and fishing with his dad, uncles, and cousins, and gardening. He and his mother planted a garden each summer with all kinds of vegetables.

After he married and moved to Garner, NC, he planted half of the yard in vegetables. Part of his social life was being in the yard, talking to neighbors and people who stopped by to talk to him. He never let them leave without giving them vegetables.

One time, a teacher in Garner stopped and wanted to know what the tall, long stem plants with big yellow flowers were. Shelton told her they would grow bananas. Later when she stopped by, she told him: "I am going to kill you (kidding)." They had a big laugh about the beautiful sunflowers.

In Garner, he built a shop behind his house. Boys who lived across the road would bring their bikes and other things for him to fix. They loved Mr. Shelton.

He enjoyed working in his yard at the beach (Surf City) and listening to country music.

Shelton graduated from Cleveland High School (Clayton, NC) in 1956. Later he studied at Wake Technical Community College.

Shelton was employed at Western Electric Company, Langdon's Tires, Stahl Rider, Inc., and retired in 1995 with 36 years of service with the News and Observer (N&O).

He liked working at the N&O. He enjoyed the people he worked with in the Machine Shop, and he said the work each day was different. One day while he was welding, a spark started the fire that burned the N&O building. From then on, he was known as "Sparky".

The family wishes to express their sincere gratitude for the care provided by Transitions Life Care.

Memorial contributions may be made in Shelton's memory to Transitions Life Care, 250 Hospice Circle, Raleigh, NC 27607, the American Heart Association, 5001 South Miami Boulevard, Suite 300, Durham, NC 27703, or an organization of your choice.

Shelton always wanted to help people, and his wish was to donate his body to science. This wish came true when the Wake Forest School of Medicine in Winston Salem, NC accepted his body.

A graveside service will be held at 2:00 PM on Tuesday, July 8, 2025 at Montlawn Memorial Park in Raleigh, NC. The family is served by Bryan-Lee Funeral Home, Garner, NC.