Serena Shelton-Pulliam

On Tuesday, April 17, 2024, Serena Andrea Shelton-Pulliam of New Kent, VA (formerly of Richmond, VA) transitioned peacefully into eternal rest at Memorial Regional Medical Center in Hanover County, VA. Serena was born December 26, 1957, to the late Thomas (Tomie) Shelton and Dorothy “Dot” Hayes Shelton in Richmond, VA and attended Armstrong H.S. (Class of 1975-76). She accepted Christ at an early age and joined Mt. Olive Baptist Church in South Richmond where she was baptized and participated in various choir, instructional and outreach organizations. During her tenure at Mt. Olive under the pastoral leadership and production efforts of Rev. Vernon “Billy” Lee, and the choir direction of Bro. Russell Rivers, she achieved the opportunity of lending her voice to wax on two tracks pressed into a 45: “In the Prayer Room” and “Oh Yes, He Will”. She later embraced the church family of Elohim Christian Outreach Center, led by Apostle Leo Hackett, after relocating to the home of her cousin and caregiver, Carolyn C. Miller, until her health interrupted regular attendance. Serena formerly enjoyed a career for 20+ years as an Account Manager for what started out as Continental Cablevision, bought by Media One, and later acquired by Comcast. Throughout those changes she was a dedicated employee. She was then briefly employed as a medical office front desk receptionist for Panic, Anxiety and Depression Center of VA, and lastly at Kroger’s as a cashier before medically retiring. She brought her creativity and people skills to every position she held. She was formerly married to Wray D. Pulliam, Sr. from 1983-2007. Serena possessed many talents, but our fondest memories held on to will be her vocal and her dancing abilities, and her love of music and photography. She could work wonders with a can of Campbell’s Cream of Mushroom soup, modify a fashion pattern flawlessly, twirl a baton like no other, write poetry, draw and paint, execute elaborately braided hair designs, and possessed a handwriting that exceeded the beauty of calligraphy. She had a passion for family and fellowship, travel and, of course, Pepsi Cola. Serena was preceded in death by her paternal grandparents, George Shelton and Bertha Johnson Shelton; maternal grandparents, Floyd Hayes and Dorothy B.H. Rogers; four aunts and their spouses: Mary S. Mealy, Mary H. Threatt (Norman), Frances H. Creighton (Raymond), and Annie H. Creighton (Francis). Serena leaves to cherish fond memories of her two loving sisters, Gloria S. Hasan of New Kent, VA, and June Shelton (Kenneth Frye) of Aylett, VA; three darling nieces, Jershawnda Richardson and Tomille Jones (Devlin Miller) of Henrico, VA, and Charisse Jones of Aylett, VA; four great-nephews; one great-niece; and devoted cousin and caregiver, Carolyn C. Miller of New Kent and her loving sister, Sandra Y. Creighton of Henrico, VA. Her passing will be felt by cousins/sisters Carol “Pinkie” Carter-Robinson, Edith “Candy” Stokes, Ruth E. Shelton, Diane Henry Coleman, Mable S. Taylor and Virginia A. Cooley; also, cousins, Earl L. and Evelyn Mealy and Meredith “Bunny” Mealy; a host of other paternal and maternal cousins; her church family at Elohim Outreach; and her Stop #13 family, including the Andrews, Sharpe, Terry/Henley and Blakeney/Parks/Taylor families.

Tributes

Serena Shelton-Pulliam

December 26, 1957 - April 17, 2024