Esther Blake Shelton, remarkable woman, teacher
Esther Blake Shelton, 91, passed away peacefully surrounded by her family Friday, Dec. 26, 2025. Esther was a wonderful and loving mother to her three children, Sam, Leslie and Celia, and an immensely proud grandmother and great-grandmother.
Raised in Miami, Fla., alongside her brother, Frank, Esther graduated summa cum laude from University of Florida. Later in life, she received a master’s degree in English literature from North Carolina State University.
Esther had an impactful career teaching high school English and literature in North Carolina. Her teaching excellence was routinely recognized by her peers and students, many of whom remained in contact with her long after their graduation.
In 2004, Esther moved to Lewes, where she continued to pursue her passions. She loved gardening and had a keen eye for color and design, enabling blooms of interest from spring through fall supporting a wide variety of pollinators and birds. To everyone’s joy, Esther spent the bulk of her children’s inheritance on plants, birdseed, and bird feeders.
Esther served Sussex County League of Women Voters with pride. She volunteered for several different positions prior to being elected president of the league in 2008. She was passionate about the importance of registering voters and monitoring the actions of local legislators. Esther retired from the league when her health no longer allowed her to participate in events. In 2018, the league held a ceremony in honor of Esther’s contributions and accomplishments.
To say that Esther was an avid reader is an understatement – her bookcases reflect her broad interests – history, art, biographies, and a lifelong collection of murder mysteries. Esther’s love of books was matched by her love of music. Anyone who was lucky enough to know Esther can easily picture her in her chair, surrounded by books, with Bach playing in the background and, of course, a cat in her lap.
One of Esther’s greatest passions was animals. Her children cherish the wonderful experience of being raised in a menagerie. Dogs and cats were staples, with birds, snakes, fish, and rodents also well represented. Esther loved her standard poodles; Rachel, her last poodle, provided Esther with years of love, companionship, and the joy of watching a dog race effortlessly across fields.
Esther was a remarkable woman, and these paragraphs only scratch the surface of the intelligent, complex, and beautiful person she was. The world was a better place with her in it.
We are blessed and thankful to have had Esther in our lives, and we will miss her dearly.
In lieu of flowers, feel free to donate to a local ASPCA.
Visit Esther's Life Memorial webpage at parsellfuneralhomes.com.
