Shelbry Cecilia Herndon Bender

Shelbry Cecilia Herndon Bender of Rustburg, Virginia joyfully entered this life on November 5, 1956.

Born in Campbell County Virginia, she was the second child of Roger and the late Shirley Lavearn (Mickles) Herndon. Beloved Shelbry received her wings and journeyed home to be with the Lord on Monday, December 20, 2021, while visiting with her daughter in Atlanta, Georgia.

Shelbry, affectionally called “Puddin” and “Sapphire”, attended Rustburg Public Schools. Growing up in a house with three outspoken girls had its challenges, but Puddin always held the title as the older sister in which we are proud of. Her role included being financially generous to her middle sister, Cookie, while she was in college. She always made sure she had spending money for the weekends. Ronnie Cake, being the youngest sister, spent a lot of time with Puddin growing up. The two would play nicely at times and not so nicely other times, but it always ended with love. Puddin attend Phillips Business College for two years. Her hobbies included writing narratives, crocheting, and going out with friends for a good time. She accepted her first job at Imperial Reading in Lynchburg, Virginia. She worked there, with her mother, for several years until she decided that the world was a big place and she wanted to experience life outside of Rustburg.

After making such a big decision, Puddin traveled to Florida to visit cousins. Loving everything about Florida, she gladly relocated there and began to build a life for herself. During that time, she met and married Julius Bender III. From that union, they had one daughter, Shirkenia Aliceia whom they both loved and adored.

As a family, they moved to Decatur, GA where Puddin worked for Park and Ride company at Hartsfield Airport in Atlanta until her health no longer allowed her to work. There she met life-long friends and companions who played major roles throughout her life.

Puddin accepted a love for Christ at an early age and became a member of Chapel Grove Baptist Church of Evington Virginia. While living in Georgia, she attended New Beginning Full Gospel Church. Puddin loved listening to different church services on TV and on the radio. She especially loved watching Tyler Perry’s productions and listening to gospel music, such as Lee Williams & The Spiritual QC’s.

Around 2002, Puddin was diagnosed with a rare autoimmune disease called Stiff Person Syndrome (SPS), which she discovered she may have been born with. This is a rare Autoimmune Disease impacted her joints and muscles and can be very painful; however, she was a fighter until the very end.

Puddin was preceded in death by her mother Shirley L. Herndon and her infant brother, Roger Nathaniel Herndon.

Celebrating Puddin’s life and cherishing her memory are her beloved daughter Shirkenia Bender, her forever son-in-law Ash Barrett, her best friend James Revely, her ex-husband Julius Bender III, her father Roger Herndon, two sisters Shelia Perry-Bush (Charles), Veronica Blank, one niece Shannon Werts (Kenneth), one nephew Eugene C. Perry, III (Cares), two great nieces Kiley & Kenzie Werts, two great nephews Kenneth Werts, Jr., Eugene C. Perry IV; one of many Godchildren Mari Bunkley, Aunts, Uncles, Cousins and a host of friends.

A homegoing service will be held at 12 p.m. in the chapel of Tharp Funeral Home, Thursday, Dec. 30,2021 with a visitation one hour prior to the service. Tharp Funeral Home, Lynchburg is assisting the family.