The stars in the night sky are shimmering a bit brighter these days now that my grand aunt Opal (Trantham) Shelton has taken her rightful place among them. Born August 8, 1933 to Lutiness Alonzo and Mattie (Buys) Trantham, Opal was one of eleven children and my paternal grandfather’s half sister. Opportunity and distance prevented me from ever meeting her. But, it is clear that the people that knew her, loved her dearly. She is truly missed.

Debra Dray, an employee at the Goldthwaite Senior Health Center where Opal lived for the last 20 years, described Opal as a warm, quiet person who was never boisterous. She loved to play bingo and was not much of a television person. She was genuinely concerned for the well-being of others and loved to be around people. In fact, when she traded in her walker for a wheelchair, there was no stopping her as she wheeled herself up and down the halls visiting each room along the way. Invited or not, Opal often turned up in Debra’s office just to be near her.

Opal, a mother of two boys, died peacefully September 11, 2015 at the age of 82.

Kenfolk: Tranthams
Relation: Opal (Trantham) Shelton is my paternal grand aunt
Common ancestors: Opal’s grandparents, Campbell Jackson and Isadora (Sims) Trantham, are my 2nd great grandparents