PRATTVILLE, Ala. — Vernon Lee Shackelford Jr., 57, passed way unexpectedly on Feb. 13, 2017.

He was born on Jan. 20, 1960, to the late Vernon Lee Shackelford and Katherine D. Shackelford in Woodland, North Carolina.
Lee graduated high school in 1978 from Northeast Academy in Lasker, North Carolina ,where he played football, baseball, basketball and forged lifelong friends. He attended Campbell University where he played baseball, and graduated from Roanoke-Chowan Technical College (now Community College) with a degree in electronics.
Lee began his career as an electrician and worked his way up to mill manager with West Fraser Timber in Maplesville, Alabama. He was formerly with Union Camp in Franklin, Virginia; Union Camp in Savannah, Georgia; West Fraser company headquarters in Memphis, Tennessee; West Fraser in Pensacola, Florida; and Maplesville, Alabama.
Lee cherished his co-workers and was extremely proud of the Maplesville Mill recently receiving the coveted Paper Clip Award, which West Fraser issues to recognize the most improved, most efficient and cost-conscious mill in the company.
Lee enjoyed playing golf, flying, cooking, eating chocolate, traveling with Nancy and spending time with his grandchildren and friends.
Lee loved to share his experience of winning the LPGA Pro-Am golf tournament with his team, led by professional golfer Stacy Lewis. Each year, Lee made a trip to the beach with his high school friends, where they relived old memories, made new memories, played golf and constantly harassed each other. “Mole,” as he was named in high school and called by his friends to this day, loved every minute spent with Norge, Earley, Coco, Hawkeye, Little Ed, Mr. Billy Boy, Perkins and Johnny B.
Lee is survived by his wife of 24 years, Nancy Vick Shackelford; his daughter, Jennifer Carlson and her husband, Keith; his beloved grandchildren, Jack, Ben and Caroline in Denver, Colorado; his brother, Bruce and his wife, Jessica, in Winterville, North Carolina; his brother-in-law, Billy Vick and his wife, Joyce, in Franklin; and many wonderful nieces and nephews and friends.
Lee was active in the First United Methodist Church in Prattville, Alabama, and a member of and formerly a deacon in the Franklin Baptist Church.
The memorial service will be in Franklin Baptist Church on Saturday, March 4, at 7 p.m., immediately following a visitation at 6 p.m.
In lieu of flowers, the family has requested donations be made in his memory to Franklin Baptist Church in Franklin.