SERVICE POSTPONED

Evelyn "Ebby" A. Shaw died on January 1, 2021 at her home following a brief illness. She was born January 5, 1927 in Phoebus, Virginia to the late Frederick W. and Bessie Hill Ashwell.

She was raised in Phoebus in a close, loving family. She was chosen May Queen at Phoebus Junior High School, and in 1943 she graduated from Hampton High School. After graduation, she went to work as clerk typist at Station Hospital at Fort Monroe where she was named Miss Fort Monroe. In 1946 she was voted "Princess Phoebus" for the Newport News Centennial Celebration and was awarded a week-long trip to Hollywood, CA where the highlight of her trip was meeting Gary Cooper, Alan Ladd, and Dorothy Lamour on a Paramount Studio movie set.

Before long a handsome young man who was in town temporarily for company business and was boarding in a home nearby caught her eye. Like clockwork she would sit in her yard swing each afternoon around the time he was due to walk by in the hopes of meeting him. One day the phone rang and her dream came true. January 10, 1948 she married the love of her life, Hurley J. Shaw, Jr. Together they raised two children of whom they were very proud. She was by Hurley's side as together they grew Shaw Paint and Wallpaper Company where she served as corporate secretary.

She was a lifelong member of LaCrosse Memorial Presbyterian Church where she served as Treasurer, Deacon, and Elder. She helped many years with vacation Bible school, held various offices with the women of the church, sang alto in the choir for many years, and taught Sunday school. She was a woman of great faith in whom love of God and church was ingrained from childhood. As an adult, her life revolved around family, church, and friends. She had a faithful servant's heart, always ready with a hot meal and encouragement for the sick or grieving. She engaged in nightly devotions and intercessory prayer. She prayed every night for her loved ones and acquaintances, as well as for our elected and appointed officials, local, state and federal.

Her love of animals led her to a ten year volunteer position at Virginia Living Museum where she logged many hours as an interpreter on the outside trail (with a special place in her heart for the otters). She also enjoyed giving educational shows featuring the screech owl, various snakes, and frogs. It wasn't unusual to find her fostering an injured or orphaned creature at home.

Ebby enjoyed various creative arts and crafts…she dabbled in painting and poetry of a personal nature…written about someone she loved or to commemorate a special event. She knitted and crocheted baby blankets, scarves, hats, dishcloths (oh, so many dishcloths!), created scratch art, and made beautiful stained glass pieces. Before the original LaCrosse Memorial Presbyterian Church building in Phoebus was demolished, she salvaged some of the stained glass from the windows and made paperweights as mementos for the congregation. She was the original DIY-er…with a little bit of spit and bubble gum she could fix or create anything. In her later years, when her life slowed down and her body rebelled, she was a voracious reader.

She will be remembered as a devoted wife, mother, Ma/Grandma, Gigi, friend (she never met a stranger), and servant of God who always put the needs of others before her own. She departed this life leaving her family a legacy of love, kindness, compassion, strength, determination, independence, resourcefulness, and responsibility...the best of herself.

She was preceded in death by her parents Frederick W. and Bessie Hill Ashwell, her siblings Anne A. MacDougall, Johanna A. Brooks, and Frederick Q. Ashwell, her beloved husband of 65 years Hurley J. Shaw, Jr., her daughter Deborah Ann Shaw who died at the tender age of three, and her daughter-in-law Pamela Holcomb Shaw. She is survived by her son Hurley J. Shaw III of Hampton, her daughter Denise Shaw Underhill (Stephen) of Chesapeake, five grandchildren, and nine great-grandchildren.

Due to unforeseen circumstances the service has been postponed. Please check back here for updates.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to LaCrosse Memorial Presbyterian Church, 1518 N Mallory St, Hampton, VA 23664, or to the charity of your choice.