A Life Story

Wesleigh Perkins Shellman, age 101, widow of Frederick Reese Shellman, died Thursday, April 16, 2026. Born in Sylvania, Georgia, she was the only child of Weslie Brown Perkins and Mose Perkins of Perkins, Georgia. After graduating with Honors from Sylvania High School, she attended Armstrong Junior College (now Georgia Southern University) in Savannah. Following World War II she married Savannah, native Frederick Reese Shellman. His passing parted them after 54 years of marriage. Wesleigh loved summers at the beach on Tybee Island and the joys of travel. In 2004 she embarked on a different adventure when she moved in at The Marshes of Skidaway Island as one of the inaugural residents. Formerly Wesleigh was a member of the Junior League of Savannah, Inc., the Oglethorpe Club, Yacht Club, and Christ Episcopal Church where she served on the Vestry and was active in the Adult Choir and the Altar Guild. She was a communicant of St. Peter’s Episcopal Church on Skidaway Island. Surviving are two children, Feay Shellman Coleman of Cincinnati Ohio and Frederick Reese Shellman, Jr. and his wife Carey Olmstead Shellman of Savannah; three grandchildren, Sarah Shellman Smith (Karl), Penelope Reese Shellman, and Weslie Selena Coleman; and two great grandchildren, Warren Bennett Smith and Sebastian Michael Smith. A Graveside Service will be private. Contributions can be made to St. Peter’s Episcopal Church and Hospice Savannah.