Margaret Helen Shelton

Margaret “Peggy” Shelton died at home in Sandy Springs, Georgia, on March 22, 2025. She was the eldest child of eight, born on July 29, 1958, at St. Francis Hospital in Columbus, Georgia, to Brigadier General James E. Shelton and Margaret Joan Shelton.

Raised in a military family, Peggy had the great fortune to travel extensively as a young girl during her formative years. She graduated from Carlisle High School in Carlisle, Pennsylvania, in 1976. She attended Shippensburg State College for two years before transferring to Georgia Southern College in 1978, when her family relocated to Ft. Stewart, Georgia. She was deeply involved in the college theater company Masquers, where she performed in and directed student productions.

After graduating, she worked briefly with The Mini-Rep Theater Co., sponsored by the City of Savannah and the Savannah Theater Company. She remained engaged in theater work after moving to Atlanta in the 1990s, acting and directing in productions with DramaTech, Georgia Tech’s student theater company, Onstage Atlanta, an in-town community theater, and a memorable summer of performances with the Georgia Shakespeare Company. However, Peggy built her professional career in development as a top-notch researcher, primarily in the higher education and nonprofit sectors.

She worked for organizations such as The Nature Conservancy in Florida and the United States Olympic Committee in Colorado Springs, Colorado, as well as institutions such as the United States Military Academy Association of Graduates at West Point, New York, and the Office of Development at the Georgia Institute of Technology.

Peggy loved all the arts, progressive politics, and people. She was devoted to her dog “Bear,” a sweet companion now living with a loving family. Peggy will be deeply missed by those who loved her.

Her family is deeply appreciative of the staff at Sunrise at Huntcliff Summit II for the support and care they provided to her and members of our family during her time there. They are also grateful to the hospice team at Longleaf Hospice of Roswell, who supported us during Peggy’s care journey.

Peggy is predeceased by her parents and sister, Kathleen O’Halloran. She is survived by six siblings – Patty, Terry, Mac, Paul, Terry Allen, and Sarah; a multitude of beloved nieces and nephews, aunts, and cousins; dear friends, Susie, Dereck, Tim, and John, whom she regarded as family, and members of the Georgia Tech Lunch Gang.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in memory of Peggy Shelton to the Gregory B. Abbott Endowment at Georgia Tech. Checks may made payable to the Georgia Tech Foundation, Inc., for the Gregory B. Abbott Endowment and mailed to the Georgia Tech Foundation, 760 Spring Street NW., Suite 400, Atlanta, GA 30308. To make a gift online, donors may go to https://www.givecampus.com/campaigns/46972/donations/new to the Greg Abbott Scholarship Fund to support DramaTech students at the Georgia Tech Foundation Inc.

Donations may also be made to Longleaf Hospice of Roswell.