Beverly Shackelford Hassell

Beverly Ann Shackelford McCraw Hassell, 89, passed away on Monday, October 26, 2026, in Fort Collins, Colorado, where she had lived with her son and daughter-in-law since the summer. A woman of extraordinary kindness, unwavering Christian faith, and a lifelong love of family, friends, music, and theater, Beverly lived a life filled with laughter, compassion, and devotion to others.

Born January 30, 1937, in Trenton, Tennessee, Beverly was the daughter of James "Jim" Shackelford and Bertha French Shackelford. Her father operated the Rexall drugstore in downtown Trenton, along with a dairy farm and creamery. Her classmates affectionately nicknamed her "Rex" because she frequently delivered impromptu commercials promoting her father's drugstore.

From an early age, Beverly demonstrated a remarkable love for the performing arts. By age four, she was reciting poetry on stage and singing on the radio. She grew up riding horses with her parents, memorizing the books of the Bible with her mother, and developing an appreciation for literature, music, and Shakespeare through her beloved aunt Bond. During summers in Memphis, she devoted hours each day to practicing the piano.

At 19, Beverly spent a memorable summer in New York City working for her aunt Judith, a jewelry designer. During those six weeks, she visited the Metropolitan Museum of Art and attended ten Broadway productions, experiences that deepened her lifelong passion for theater. She attended Judson College in Marion, Alabama, initially studying voice before discovering her love for acting. She later earned a degree in speech pathology from the University of Tennessee and taught school in Arlington, Tennessee.

In 1958, Beverly married Dr. Charles T. McCraw. Together they raised three children, Tom, Penny, and James, in Germantown, Tennessee, where Beverly made her home for more than 30 years. Although she possessed many talents, Beverly always considered motherhood her greatest calling. When once asked how she hoped to be remembered, her answer was simple: as a good mother.

Beverly was a gifted actress and an enthusiastic supporter of the Memphis performing arts community. She served on the boards of directors of Theatre Memphis and Germantown Community Theatre and appeared in numerous productions, including The Foreigner, Follies, Baby, Gigi, and The Sound of Music. She particularly enjoyed her role as the female lead in The Foreigner, a production in which she performed three times over a ten-year period.

Her talents extended beyond the stage. Beverly appeared in numerous television and radio commercials, industrial films, a sitcom pilot, and an episode of the television series Unsolved Mysteries. She also hosted Silent Victories, a local television program featuring individuals who had found strength and perseverance through life's hardships. She cherished the friendships she developed through theater and delighted in the fellowship of her fellow performers. Her advice to young actors was always to bring a pencil to rehearsal—with an eraser.

Following the death of her first husband in 2000, Beverly eventually reconnected with the Reverend Jerry Hassell, her childhood sweetheart from first grade in Trenton. Born just five days apart, the two had shared a special affection as children, and Jerry had once passed her a note proposing that they marry when they turned 24. Their reunion many decades later brought a wonderful new chapter to Beverly's life. They married and shared 17 joyful years together. Beverly embraced her role as a Methodist minister's wife and lovingly cared for Jerry during his battle with Alzheimer's disease until his passing in 2017.

Beverly's Christian faith was the foundation of her life. Raised in the Baptist tradition and a member of Second Presbyterian Church at the time of her passing, she maintained a lifelong devotion to Jesus Christ and the Holy Scriptures. She treasured a hand-painted book of Bible promises given to her by her aunt and found particular comfort in Proverbs 3:5–6, which begins, "Trust in the Lord with all thine heart." Her faith never faltered, and her Christian convictions were reflected in the kindness, generosity, and compassion she extended to everyone she encountered.

Those who knew Beverly will remember her warm smile, outgoing personality, wonderful sense of humor, and genuine love for people. She believed laughter was among life's greatest gifts and delighted in making others happy. She loved singing, playing the piano, Broadway musicals, Turner Classic Movies, New York City at Christmas, chocolate pie, and ice cream. Above all, she cherished time spent with family and friends.

Beverly was preceded in death by her parents, James and Bertha Shackelford; her husbands, Dr. Charles T. McCraw and the Reverend Jerry Hassell; her beloved daughter, Penelope Bond "Penny" McCraw; and her half-brothers, James and Gus Shackelford.

She is survived by her two sons, Charles T. "Tom" McCraw Jr. and his wife, Donna, and James Harris McCraw and his wife, Veronica; and her three grandchildren, Deanna McCraw Jasinski and her husband, Dan, Ben McCraw, and Alex McCraw and his wife, Clarissa.

Beverly leaves behind a legacy of extraordinary kindness, steadfast faith, joyful laughter, and unconditional love. She will be remembered not simply for her accomplishments on stage or television, but for the countless lives she touched through her generosity of spirit and genuine affection for others. To her family, she was a loving mother and grandmother. To her friends, she was a source of laughter, encouragement, and companionship. To all who knew her, she was a beautiful example of a life guided by faith, hope, and love.

A Celebration of Life will be held Saturday, November 7, 2026, at 1:00 p.m. at Braden United Methodist Church, 230 Highway 59, Braden, Tennessee 38049.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to A.D. Players of Houston, a Christian theater organization, at https://thegeorge.vbotickets.com/donations/8791.

Her family takes comfort in the promise of eternal life through Jesus Christ and the words of Matthew 25:21:

"Well done, thou good and faithful servant.”