Richard Shelby, 65, passed away peacefully on October 11, 2025, at a local hospital with his wife, Cara, at his side. He was a native of Florence, Alabama and resident of Fairhope, Alabama.
Richard was a proud Auburn University graduate. This is where he met his wife, with whom he became the extraordinarily proud father of five sons and one daughter. He spent his career in wireless communications sales, but his impact on people is his legacy.
Richard was a large presence, literally and figuratively, in the lives of all who knew him, and worked to keep in close contact with high school and college friends. He will definitely leave a void in the lives of his many friends and family.
Richard is preceded in death by his parents, William Edwin Shelby and Jerelyn Wright Shelby. He is survived by his wife Cara; sons, Matt (Jennifer), Brett (fiancé Alli Phillips), Jordan (Bailey), Michael (fiancé Maddie Jackson) and Christopher; his daughter, Emily; his grandchildren, John Pridgen, Allie Shelby, Matthew Shelby, Reese Shelby and Noah Shelby; and one brother, Edwin Shelby.
Richard’s favorite way to spend his time was with his family. Nothing made him happier. He was greatly loved as the head of the Shelby Clan.
His funeral will be held at St. Lawrence Catholic Church, 370 South Section Street, Fairhope, Alabama, on Friday October 17, 2025. A rosary will be prayed in the St. Lawrence Room at 9:30AM with a visitation from 10-11AM. The Funeral Mass will begin at 11AM in the church. Lunch will be served in the St. Lawrence room after. All are welcome to join the family.
In lieu of flowers, to honor Richard’s memory, the family invites friends to make contributions to AUTLIVE, a cause devoted to helping cancer patients and their families, and founded by former Auburn University basketball coach Bruce Pearl. Donations may be made online through the Bruce Pearl Family Foundation at https://jacquipearl.givecloud.co/give
Hughes Funeral Home, 26209 Pollard Road, Daphne, AL, is assisting the family.
I had the privilege of working with Richard on several projects in the Public Safety arena. He could be tough at times, but he always brought humor, a huge smile, and an infectious laugh to every situation. Richard was someone you could always count on to help. I truly appreciate the time I spent working with him and pray that God brings peace and comfort to his family . May his memory be a blessing.
As nieghbors and friends for many many years I feel it a privilege to have known Richard and see the amazing family he and Cara have grown into since those days at Auburn 🧡💙
Richard was a true friend, the kind of friend only God provides. He was a good man to his core, a man who was devoted to his family, and treated my own kids as his own. Richard led the kind of life that made others want what he had: abounding generosity, family loyalty, great sense of humor, and above all, a kind heart. While he will be missed greatly he also left this example for us to follow in these virtues. May Almighty God hold him close and give His peace to the Shelby family.
I worked with Richard for 5 years at Saber Communication and for 10 years at SouthernLINC Wireless. He was so full of energy and inspired others to join him. I learned quite a lot from him. Peace be with you Cara and all your family🙏🏻✝️🙏🏻
I am a few days past Richard’s b’day but i wanted to drop a note of remembrance. Dang, the memories of a really really good guy. You know I went to high school with Richard but him being two years older I dd not get to run with him much in High School. But at Auburn – oh my – the infamous Hooter Honkers. Then, the dang guy move in the trailer next to the one we owned in Ridgewood Trailer Park. Kip Green and him would mound up the beer cans right out their front door so they could take them to get recycle money- the dang pile ofcans was almost as tall as the dang trailer door by the end of the quarter. so many fun stories so many good memories. Happy B’day in heaven big guy War Eagle
This past fall on October 11, 2025, I lost a dear friend. Richard Shelby was a wonderful husband, father and friend to many. I grew up in Florence, Alabama with Richard. We became close friends when we attended Bradshaw High School and we graduated together in 1978. During our high school years, we played high school tennis together, church league basketball and hung out together often. We were co-captains of the Bradshaw Tennis Team when we were seniors, but Richard was the backbone of the team and an excellent player. I was just lucky to be on his team. He was also a very talented basketball player, and he always played with great determination. His wide wingspan made him a force under the basket on rebounding and following missed shots. Richard had a big personality with a smile that came quickly. He was always upbeat no matter what he was going through, and the last several years of his life he had health issues that he had to endure, and he did it with a wonderful attitude. There is no way I could have kept my chin up like he always did.
When Richard graduated from high school, he knew without a doubt that he wanted to go to Auburn University, which he loved so much. He was a huge Auburn football fan but in later years followed their basketball program just as closely. I stayed in Florence after graduation and attended The University of North Alabama. After my first year, I changed my major to engineering and started planning my transition to Auburn after my sophomore year. When I started visiting Auburn during my sophomore year, Richard was very encouraging to me about my transition, and he was happy that I would be joining him in Auburn. I was more excited. When I moved to Auburn in the fall of 1980, I lived down the street from Richard with another friend from Florence in the Ridgewood Village trailer park. We started doing everything together. We played intramural softball and basketball with several other Florence guys attending Auburn. Richard and his roommate, Kip Green, would often have parties at their trailer in the nice outside yard they had which was between their trailer and the Carbine’s trailer (3 brothers from Florence that were all close to Richard). We always had a large time. Richard knew everyone and everyone loved him. It seemed that he personally greeted every single person that came to their parties. He met everyone with a smile and the shake of their hand. Richard made them feel comfortable and welcome. We had two amazing years together at Auburn. I wouldn’t trade those years for anything. Richard’s love for Auburn football was infectious. We would attend games together and it was a blast. People were drawn to Richard and that is why he had so many good friends. He treated everyone with respect and encouraged so many of us along the way. During the last year of our time at Auburn, Richard met Cara, who turned out to be the love of his life. She was beautiful and they had so much fun together.
In 1982, we both graduated from Auburn. I got married the week after I graduated and moved to South Carolina for my first engineering job. Richard moved to Colombus, GA. I was only in South Carolina for a short period of time when I got a call from Richard to invite me to be a part of his wedding. I was honored and my wife, Jan, and I had so much fun that weekend with Richard, Cara, family members and their friends. Richard and Cara ended up having six children. Richard and I kept in touch, but we were obviously not as close as we had been during our Auburn years. When I would talk to Richard on the phone, he was always talking about Cara and all the kids. He was so proud of them! Richard was living his dream. When we would get together, it was like we were back in the college days and the catching up was always great. Richard was always fun to be around.
In 2016, Richard was very sick and I got a call from Cara. Tim Hughes (one of the Florence guys that was also close to Richard), and I went to see Richard in the hospital in Birmingham. He was not doing well. He soon went to a cancer hospital in Colombus, Ohio. Tim and I went up to see Richard and Cara at the hospital and Tim and I didn’t think he was going to make it. Through it all, Richard had his normal positive attitude. He was amazing. He ended up doing great and was soon home with Cara. Unfortunately, his treatments really hurt his back and slowed him down, but he stayed positive. We stayed in touch more after this, but it was still infrequent face-to-face visits with Richard and Cara.
In mid-September 2025, Cara contacted me to let me know that Richard had a major heart issue. Jim Favenesi, another one of his close friends, and I went down to see Richard on September 22. We were able to have a nice visit with Richard and Cara in their beautiful home that afternoon and then we went out for a nice dinner at Tamara’s in downtown Fairhope. Richard wasn’t feeling well but had a good appetite. When we helped Richard into the car that night, he was positive and they both hoped that he would get the help he needed in Birmingham in the very near future. Unfortunately, Richard had cardiac arrest the next afternoon and he wasn’t able to recover from this. He passed peacefully on October 11. I miss my close friend, Richard Shelby, so much. He was always an inspiration to me and his other Florence friends.
In this life, you are a lucky man if you have ONE friend as special as Richard. I thank God for letting Richard be such an important part of my life. I hope to see him in Heaven.