Margaret "Shirley" Nelson Vallandingham

Margaret Shirley Nelson Vallandingham, 93, of Mechanicsville, Maryland, passed away peacefully on August 28, 2025, in Leonardtown. Born on January 12, 1932, in Clements, MD, she was the beloved daughter of the late Francis Parran Nelson, Sr. and Agnes Kathleen (Ryan) Nelson. On September 18, 1949, Shirley married the love of her life, George “Francis” Vallandingham, at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Bushwood, MD. Together, they shared nearly 50 years of marriage, until his passing on August 13, 1999. Shirley embraced life with warmth, joy, and a love for its simple pleasures. She enjoyed dancing at club gatherings, playing cards with family and friends, and tending to her garden. Above all, her heart belonged to her family. Her greatest happiness came from time spent with her children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and great-great-grandchildren, who were the light of her life. She is survived by her children, Frankie Vallandingham, Mike Vallandingham, Johnny "Pork" Vallandingham (Linda), Timmy Vallandingham, and Tammy Wood (Wade); daughter-in-law’s Laura Vallandingham and Sandy Vallandingham; her siblings, Francis “Rod” Nelson, Clyde “Corky” Nelson (Gayle), Sandra Caywood (George), James “Buck” Nelson (Lorraine), and Donald “Donnie” Nelson (Sandy); 19 grandchildren; 36 great-grandchildren; and 3 great-great-grandchildren. Shirley was preceded in death by her husband, Francis; her sons, George L. Vallandingham Sr. and Roger Lee Vallandingham; her daughter-in-law, Pat Vallandingham; and her siblings, Joan Ryce (Tommy), Pete Nelson, Michael “Mickey” Nelson (Liz), John “Jack” Nelson, Sr (Anita) and Terry Lee Nelson (Barbara). Family and friends will be received on Thursday, September 11, 2025 from 9:30 AM to 11:00 AM with the funeral service being held at 11:00 AM in the funeral home chapel, with Deacon Joe Lloyd officiating. Interment will follow at Sacred Heart Catholic Cemetery, Bushwood, MD. Serving as pallbearers will be Bo Vallandingham, Mike Wines, Chris Nelson, Jason Vallandingham, Tracy Vallandingham, and JR Wood. Honorary pallbearers will be her remaining grandchildren, her great-grandchildren and her great-great-grandchildren. In lieu of flowers, the family kindly requests contributions in Shirley’s memory be made to the Seventh District Volunteer Rescue Squad, P.O. Box 7, Avenue, Maryland, 20609. Shirley’s legacy of love, kindness, and devotion to family will live on in the hearts of all who knew her.