Irene Patterson Shelton, 93, a resident of Benton, passed away Sunday, March 18, 2012 in an Etowah hospital. She was a member of Pine Ridge Baptist Church. She was preceded in death by her husband, Melvin Shelton; son, Melvin Shelton, Jr.; parents, Edd and Cora Hyde Patterson; brothers: F.H. Patterson and R.A. Patterson; sisters: Stacy Nelms and Annie Shelton. Survivors include her son, Edd Lee Shelton and wife, Sandra of Calhoun; grandchildren: Donna Shelton of Cleveland; Troy Shelton of Benton and Tina Shelton of Cleveland; Lynn Shelton of Conyers, GA; 1 great grandchild, Tatum Turner of Conyers, GA.; and daughter-in-law, Betty Shelton of Benton. Funeral services will be conducted at 2:00 p.m. Thursday, March 22, 2012 in the chapel of Higgins Funeral Home with the Reverends Floyd Boggess and Earl Gentry officiating. Interment will follow in Delano Cemetery will a white dove release ceremony concluding the service. Her family will receive friends from 6-8 p.m. Wednesday, March 21, 2012 at the funeral home. We invite you to send a message of condolence and view the Shelton family guestbook at www.higginsfuneral.com.