Martha Carroll McCullough

Karen McCullough

Martha Carroll Shackelford McCullough, 82, of Stone Mountain, Ga., died peacefully Monday, April 13, 2026, at Dogwood Forest Assisted Living in Grayson after a valiant fight against breast cancer.

Martha Carroll was born in Steens, Miss., in 1943 to Mildred and Carey Shackelford. She was their first child, but her father did not meet her until she was a toddler because he was serving in combat in Italy during World War II.

Martha Carroll graduated from Mississippi State College for Women, married her childhood sweetheart James Loyd, and moved to Georgia to become a teacher in 1966.

She worked her entire career in DeKalb County, starting at Walker High School. She then took time off to have children, and then worked briefly as a secretary before returning to teaching at both Cedar Grove High School and Walker, which was later renamed McNair. She later earned her Master's from Georgia State. She taught typing, accounting and business education, and served as the FBLA coordinator.

Martha Carroll loved cooking, gardening, birdwatching, collecting pretty glass, and listening to the Braves and the Bulldogs. For 60 years she kept a radio in every room and often carried one with her so she could listen to WSB. She was an avid reader and fell asleep most nights with a book on her lap.

She loved spending time with her friends and neighbors, including the Nash Estates Women's Club, of which she had served as president, her book club, and eating with her fellow teachers in the McNair Lunch Bunch.

She enjoyed doing things with her grandchildren and great-grandchildren, often taking them places and teaching them things. She really loved Christmas, and always decorated the house extensively. Nothing made her happier than having all her family come to her house for holidays and birthdays.

She was preceded in death by her parents and by her husband of 56 years, James Loyd McCullough.

She is survived by her son Nathan McCullough, of Stone Mountain; daughter Karen McCullough Pope (Buddy), of Anson, Texas; grandson Matthew Cornell (Holly), of Athens; grandson Garrett Cornell (Karina) and their sons Aeden and Henry, of Statham; granddaughter Madyson Bell (Dusten) and their daughters Charleigh and Georgia, of Bishop; sister Beth Taylor, of Madison, Miss.; sister Cathy Dinkins, of Madison, Miss.; brother Jim Shackelford of Columbus, Miss.; and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.

Visitation will be from 1 to 2:45 p.m. Saturday, April 18, 2026, at A.S. Turner and Sons Funeral Home, 2773 N. Decatur Road, Decatur. A service will follow at 3 p.m.

Visitation will then be held at Lowndes Funeral Home, Columbus, Miss., with burial afterward at Vaughn Cemetery in Steens, date and times to be determined.