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Sherman Thomas Shifflett, age 79, passed away suddenly at his home at 161 White Walnut Road, Louisa, on Monday, February 14, 2022. Mr. Shifflett was born in Charlottesville, VA, on April 13, 1942, at the University of Virginia Hospital. He was the youngest of 11 eleven children born to Nelie Florence Shifflett and George Harvey Shifflett of Albemarle County, who along with siblings Ferrell, Beulah, Chellie, Randell and Edward, preceded him in death.
Sherman is survived by his sister Ruby Scruggs of Charlottesville; his brother Ralph Shiflet of Cookeville, Tennessee; a sister Thelma Widener (Ben) of Stony Point; and sisters Nancy Thomas and Linda Shifflett of Charlottesville. He is also survived by numerous nieces, nephews, cousins and his longtime friend and companion, Ava Pippin, of Mineral.
Sherman, a native of Charlottesville and a 1960 graduate of Albemarle High School, was inducted into the AHS Hall of Fame in 2013. He also attended Rock Hill Academy as a post-graduate, and as a high school athletic standout, attended Ferrum Junior College from 1962 to 1964, where he excelled in both football and track. He was inducted into the Ferrum College Alumni Sports Hall of Fame in 2014. From Ferrum, he transferred to East Tennessee State University, graduating in 1966 with a Bachelor of Science degree.
The United States military called, and Sherman proudly served two years in the U.S. Army before beginning a 53-year career as an educator in Louisa County, Virginia. He began teaching and coaching at Louisa County High School in 1968 and forged his own legacy by founding and coaching the school’s track and cross country teams, leading his harriers to five district titles and one regional championship over an 11-year period. He subsequently moved into administration as an assistant principal, vocational director, athletic director and visiting teacher until his retirement in 1997.
In 2004, Sherman ran for the first of his five terms as the Mineral District representative on the Louisa County School Board. In November 2021, he was successful in his bid for re-election to his fifth term on Louisa’s school board.
Mr. Shifflett is also remembered for being very active in his 53 years as a Louisa County resident, serving in a number of different capacities. They include both membership and leadership roles on the Parks & Recreation Advisory Committee; Louisa County Crime Solvers; a court-appointed position on the Community Diversion Incentive Program; Mineral District representative to Louisa’s Industrial Development Authority; Mineral Historic Foundation; Vestryman at Mineral’s Church of the Incarnation; and School Board Liaison to the Louisa Education Foundation.
In 2018, he authored his first book, “Remembering A Blue Ridge Mountain Father”, a collection of short stories about growing up in the foothills of Albemarle County with a father who, with his young family, was displaced from the Blue Ridge Mountains in the 1930’s to make way for the Blue Ridge Parkway, but never abandoned the mountain lifestyle to which he was accustomed. Both he and Ms. Pippin have been avid collectors and have enjoyed sharing their vintage memorabilia at the Mineral Mercantile in Mineral, VA.
Visitation is scheduled for Wednesday, February 23, from 6-8 p.m. at Belmont Baptist Church, 830 Monticello Avenue, Charlottesville. The memorial service will also take place at Belmont Baptist at 2 p.m. on Thursday, February 24th, with interment at Holly Memorial Gardens. The family requests that attendees wear a mask at visitation, funeral and gravesite.
Floral tributes are welcome. Any monetary contributions in his memory may be made by check payable to the Louisa Education Foundation, P.O. Box 130, Mineral, VA, 23117, and designated for the LCHS Fieldhouse Fund.
Submitted by Connie Crenshaw.
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Charles "Connie" Crenshaw (1958)
My Dear Friend: Sherman Shifflett
By Jim Brewer
He was my close friend, but I never met him in person. He was Sherman Shifflett and he passed away unexpectedly this week. He had a had a run-in with prostate cancer, but nothing life threatening. He just went peacefully in the night.
I first got to know Sherman soon after I started posting CvilleBuzz. He responded to one of my articles, we hit it off and I can’t tell you how many times we have connected by e-mail.
After it was clear that we had many common interests, we both agreed that we should meet one day at Floozie’s Pie Shop in Louisa, be we never got around to it.
Through my writings and his responses, I learned of his love and appreciation for education. He worked as a teacher, administrator, coach, and member of the school board for the Louisa County Public Schools for 53 years. I also discovered we had a mutual friend, Hank Norton, the legendary football coach at Ferrum College. Sherman played for Hank in the late 50’s. Lots of kids couldn’t make it through Norton’s Spartan football practices, but Sherman did. Later, Sherman transferred and graduated from East Tennessee State University, then joined the Army and served two years during the Vietnam Conflict. When he left the service, Sherman returned to his beloved Louisa County, earned a master’s degree from UVA and began his storied career in education.
Through our correspondence, I discovered his love for hunting and the great outdoors. Some of his fondest memories were of hunting deer on several leased properties. He wrote me lengthy accounts of his hunts, many ending in “The deer that got away.”
I found out that he enjoyed cooking and we shared many recipes. He thought my Blueberry Stuff was out of sight and made it for many school board meetings.
Sherman loved birds. He spoke fondly of a whippoorwill that made an evening house call just two summers ago. He loved to travel with his special lady, Ava Pippin, and with each of his ventures, he wrote to me to advise for or against them and what to see and do if I ever went.
He enjoyed taking Ava out to dinner and lunches throughout the state. On many occasions they hopped in the car and drove over two hours to eat at Lowery’s Seafood in Tappahannock. He had played football with one of the family owners.
Sherman was an excellent writer and published a great book, “Remembering a Blue Ridge Mountain Father” in 2019. He told me he was surprised at how many folks liked and bought his books.
Sherman was also a rock-solid conservative and a great defender of the 2ndAmendment. He didn’t have much use for liberal politicians. Nor did I.
Sherman loved to garden and frequently sent me seeds with instructions on planting them. He loved his chickens and being around them. He said one time, “I didn’t care about the eggs. I just love to be around my chickens.” He wore his heart on his sleeve. You always knew where he stood.
He was incredibly generous. If he saw apple butter at a local church sale, he would buy an extra jar and send it to me in the mail. He sent me bottles of Koss BBQ sauce and any books that he through worth reading. He sent me a hand-made knife that one of his friends had crafted.
He would have been 80 on April 13. He was my dear friend, but we never met face to face. At least, not yet.
Rebecca Toms (Andrews) (1960)
Beautiful memorial, Connie Crenshaw. I had no idea of all of his successes! I just remember Sherman and his radiant "grin". You never met him in the hallways at AHS, that he didn't give you that sweet grin. RIP, dear Sherman.
Rebecca Toms Andrews Class 1960
Leonard Sandridge Jr (1960)
Sherman was an honorable person, humble, hardworking and he exhibited an extraordinary amount of common sense. He was my classmate; we were on the football team together; and later in life we had the opportunity to discuss educational issues of common interest. I always came away from those convesatons better informed and more aware of the value Sherman added to any conversation. I will miss him and am greateful for the privilege i had to know him over six decades..
Charles "Connie" Crenshaw (1958)
It is difficult to say goodbye to a special friend. We knew each other but becamd close friends when the newly formed Albemarle High School Alumni Association was honoring Mr. Benjamin Hurt and recognizing the first members of the Albemarle High School Alumni Hall of Fame in 2011. We name it, A Night To Remember. Sherman subnitted his statements of the many ways Mr. Hurt had helped him and expressed his gratitude. We used that in the introduction of Mr. Hurt to the audience. That night Sherman and I connected. Sherman has been a supporter of the AHS Alumni Association nd has served on our Hall of Fame Review Committee. We also connected at the Belmont Boys annual breakfast. Sherman nd his special friend Ava and my wife and I have taken turns teating each other to diner many times and always had a wonderful time together. We had a lot in common. I asmired Shermsn's dedication to the education of our students. Sherman was a generous man and would do anything he could to help someone in need. Louisa County students from years past would stay in contact with Sherman. He served on the Louisa County School Board and was continuing to serve until his death. I will miss Sherman and I know many others will. Sherman was a good man.