Vera Shelton

Vera Belle Austin Shelton, 85 of East Ridge, formerly of St. Elmo, went to heaven to get her new body on Tuesday, Jan. 14, 2014. Vera was born Aug. 20, 1928 in Dunlap, Tenn. She was a member of Greens Lake Road Church of Christ and retired as a lifelong Caregiver. She was preceded in death by her husband of 42 years, James C. Shelton Jr.; parents, Sam and Vina Austin; sisters, Irene Hooks, Corine Johnson; and brother, Franklin Austin, all of Dunlap; brothers, R.A. Austin and George Austin, both of Michigan. Survivors include brother Sam (Evelyn) Austin, of Dunlap; sister, Maggie Leonard, of Chattanooga; four daughters, Donna (Darell) Jones and Sabrina Aref, both of Trenton, Ga., Diane (John) Jones, of Coral Springs, Fla., Jane (Joe) Kazemian, of Powder Springs, Ga.; and two sons, Jim (Myrian) Shelton III, of Colorado Springs, Colo., and Mark Shelton, of Cottonton, Ala.; 15 grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren; along with several nieces and nephews. Visitation is from 2 to 8 p.m. today and noon to 1 p.m. on Friday at the funeral home. Funeral services will be 1 p.m. on Friday, Jan. 17, 2014 at the funeral home with Ministers Jim Lewis and Roger Leonard officiating. Interment will follow at Hamilton Memorial Gardens in Hixson. Please share your condolences at chattanoogaeastchapel.com. Arrangements are by the East Chapel of Chattanooga Funeral Home, Crematory & Florist, 404 S. Moore Road.