Melissa “Mickey” Mullins Shuping, 82, of Morganton, NC, passed away on February 1, 2023 at The Berkeley Assisted Living due to complications from Parkinson’s disease.
The daughter of the late Frank Sizemore and Helen (Stewart) Mullins, Mickey was born on July 8, 1940 in a log cabin with no running water or electricity on Newman’s Ridge in the mountains of rural Tennessee. She attended Sneedville High School and in 1961 received an Associate in Arts degree from Warren Wilson College where she worked in housekeeping, laundry and the weaving room. Upon graduation, Mickey taught in a one-room school in Sneedville, TN. She went on to receive a Bachelor of Arts in Elementary Education from Lenoir Rhyne College and a Master of Arts in Education Media from North Carolina A&T. After moving to Burke County in 1961, Mickey embarked on a 30-year career as an educator both in the classroom and in library sciences. She retired from education in 1991 and began working in a variety of administrative positions at Grandfather Golf and Country Club, retiring in 2007.
Mickey was an active member of the Agape Sunday School class at Morganton First Baptist Church and volunteered in the kitchen for Sunday luncheons and Wednesday night suppers. Cooking and baking were her passion and ministry, and her pizzellas and red velvet cake were always in great demand. Mickey loved to host gatherings for friends and family and would tirelessly cook for days to prepare a feast for the many. She loved to receive and grow flowers and flowering plants of all kinds and could keep a Christmas poinsettia alive and blooming for months after the holiday.
Mickey was married for 62 years to her college beau, Clyde Astor Shuping. Together they raised a family, traveled and spoiled their grandchildren and great grandchildren. Holidays at “Mickey and Granddaddy’s” house were treasured times.
Mickey is survived by her husband Clyde Shuping; son, Alan Shuping (Carrie) of Crossnore, NC, and daughter, Jennifer Patton (Fred) of Morganton, NC; sisters, Mary Eplee of Laurel, MD; Elizabeth “Peg” Johnson of Knoxville, TN; and Nina Talbert (Gary) of Lake Waccamaw, NC; brother Lester Mullins (Brenda) of Sneedville, TN; grandchildren, Agusta (Nick), Hannah, Andrew (Kimberly), Helen, and Christian (fiancée Jean); and great grandchildren, Patton and Rory. Mickey was preceded in death by sisters Georgia Watkins and Billie Horton.
A memorial service will be held at 11:00 A.M. Monday February 6, 2023 in the Sanctuary at Morganton First Baptist Church, with final inurnment at Flowers of the Field, the Mullins family cemetery in Sneedville, TN, at a later date.
To honor Mickey’s love of feeding people, in lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Morganton First Baptist Church Food Ministry, 502 West Union Street Morganton, N.C. 28655.
The family wishes to send a special thank-you to the dedicated staff at The Berkeley Assisted Living and the nurses from Medi Home Hospice for their kindness and compassion.
God, in his infinite mercy, looked down from heaven and decided it was time for Mickey to come home.
Heritage Funeral Service & Crematory of Valdese is serving the family.
My sincere condolences to Mickey’s family. I knew her from the Burke County Public Schools Media Librarians Assocation. May God bless each of you during this most difficult time in your lives.
She was a talented and kind lady. She was a good wife to my brother Clyde.
Mickey was a sweet lady and I was honored to have met and been able to take care of at The Berkeley. She had a smile that would melt your heart and a heart of gold. She will truly be missed. Our sincere thoughts and prayers are with her family.
Mrs. Shuping was an amazing educator! I have fond memories of her serving as our Librarian at Drexel Elementary. May she rest in peace.
Jennie, Freddy and Shuping family, Robert and I are so saddened to hear of Mickey’s passing. We taught at Drexel Elementary for many years . She was such a wonderful resource and she served and educated many in the Drexel community. My love and thoughts !
My grandma has Parkinson’s disease, she is about 75 years old it was detected 7 years ago. Right now it’s getting more difficult to live for her, because of stiff muscles she can’t even move. L-dopa and carbidopa medicines are given, but won”t give much relief. She can”t eat food and the skin is damaging forming ganglia. I thought this might be the last stage and the medications she was given did not help at all, so I started to do alot of research on natural treatments, I was introduced to Health Natural Centre and their Parkinson’s Herbal Protocol. She started on the Parkinson’s Treatment last year, her symptoms gradually diminished including her Tremors, Body Weakness and Muscle Pains. Reach them at healthnaturalcentre.org , She is getting active again since starting this treatment, she is able to walk again ( down the street and back ) and able to ride her treadmill again! God Bless all PD Caregivers. Stay Strong, take small moments throughout the day to thank yourself, to love your self, and pray to whatever faith, star, spiritual force you believe in and ask for strength. I can personally vouch for these remedy but you would probably need to decide what works best for you.
My grandma has Parkinson’s disease, she is about 75 years old it was detected 7 years ago. Right now it’s getting more difficult to live for her, because of stiff muscles she can’t even move. L-dopa and carbidopa medicines are given, but won”t give much relief. She can”t eat food and the skin is damaging forming ganglia. I thought this might be the last stage and the medications she was given did not help at all, so I started to do alot of research on natural treatments, I was introduced to Health Natural Centre and their Parkinson’s Herbal Protocol. She started on the Parkinson’s Treatment last year, her symptoms gradually diminished including her Tremors, Body Weakness and Muscle Pains. Reach them at healthnaturalcentre.org , She is getting active again since starting this treatment, she is able to walk again ( down the street and back ) and able to ride her treadmill again! God Bless all PD Caregivers. Stay Strong, take small moments throughout the day to thank yourself, to love your self, and pray to whatever faith, star, spiritual force you believe in and ask for strength. I can personally vouch for these remedy but you would probably need to decide what works best for you.