Obituary of Mary Grace Shelton

Mary Grace Shelton, 80, passed away peacefully Wednesday, August 30, 2023.     

She was born May 22, 1943 in Ft. Myers, FL at the former Buckingham Army Airfield hospital where her late father, Ret. Lt. Col. William Turner Robertson, was in flight school training.  She moved back to Orlando, FL as an infant and was a life-long resident.  

Her passion for playing in the dirt began as a small child helping in her grandfather’s garden.  Horticulture became her passion both personally and professionally.  Her long career began in the late 1960’s at the former Sharp’s Green Thumb Nursery near Lake Underhill in Orlando.  Retiring from Walt Disney World Horticulture, she specialized in container ornamentals and interiors, and was honored with Disney’s Partner’s In Excellence lifetime achievement award that celebrates Cast Members who have achieved sustained, excellent job performance.  Grace always looked forward to Epcot’s annual flower festival as well as sharing the magic with family, grandchildren, and friends with her annual park passes.    

She is preceded in death by her father, Ret. Lt. Col. William Turner Robertson; her mother, Rose Blessing Brown; stepfather, Bill Brown; and grandson, U.S. Army Sgt. Benjamin H. Littrell.

She is survived by her four children, Shirley A. Sharp, Lynette Sharp Littrell, Cyrus H. Sharp, III (Nancy), Debby Floyd McGann (Ted); her sister, Kathy Brown Bratcher; and seven grandchildren; Elizabeth Littrell, Garrett Schwartz, Robbie Schwartz, Henry Sharp, William Sharp, Chris Isbell, and Ted Isbell. 

The family is taking some time to grieve this loss and will keep everyone informed about future arrangements.