Shelby Jean Craft, 82, of Portsmouth, passed away at her home on July 10, 2026. She was born in New Boston on September 15, 1943, the daughter of the late Ruby Darlene Shover Coburn and Johnney Edward Jenkins.
Shelby was a 1962 graduate of Portsmouth West High School, and she worked as a domestic housekeeper. She enjoyed gardening and antiquing, and she was a gifted writer of short stories and poetry. However, playing bingo and researching her family’s genealogy were her favorite pastimes.
On July 21, 1972, she married Clarence Craft in Hagerstown, MD. At the time of his passing on August 11, 1996, the couple had been married for 24 years.
Shelby is survived by a niece, Charity Patrick of Columbus; a nephew, Pastor Douglas Whigham of Lyons, GA; and a brother, David Wayne Coburn of Fayetteville, NC.
In addition to her parents and husband, Clarence, Shelby was preceded in death by her longtime companion, Steve Blevins; son, Michael A. Craft; two daughters, Tawanna J. Craft and Monique Craft; her beloved dog, Foxy; a brother, Ralph Larry Coburn; two sisters, Carolyn Ann Craft and Wanda Darlene Whigham; a granddaughter, Amanda Pearl Craft; and a great-granddaughter, Lucretia Craft.
A memorial service will be held at a later date at the Ralph F. Scott Funeral Home in Portsmouth with Pastor Douglas Whigham officiating. Interment will be in Friendship Cemetery.
The family will receive friends one hour prior to services at the funeral home.
