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Shelby Long, founder of Church Hill Crime Watch, dies after battle with cancer
11/01/2015 4:31 PM by John M
Shelby Long, founder of the Church Hill Crime Watch, lost her battle with cancer this morning.
A Church Hill resident since the 1970s, Long founded the Church Hill Crime Watch in 1986. She was nationally recognized by Newsweek in 1989 for her efforts to organize against crime in the neighborhood.
“It wasn’t very hard at that time to get people interested,” she told The Free Lance-Star in 1989. “But continuing the interest is the hard part.” The organization she founded is still active, just shy of 30 years later.
Shelby was more recently recognized in 2014 by the Richmond Police Department for her 28 plus years of dedication and service (PHOTO ABOVE).
— ∮∮∮ —
The Free Lance-Star – Jul 10, 1989
She will be missed by many.
God Speed Shelby… you will truly be missed by all you have touched over the years.
Please post service information John.
Has there been provisions made for a successor of the Church Hill Crime Watch automated calls and notices?
I am very sad to hear this news. RIP Shelby. Church Hill is a much better place because of you.
I’m sure when details are available, they will be posted here and/or at the Times Dispatch obits page, Eric. She will be missed, and thanks to Mr. Murden for posting this.
That is a GREAT older article that John Murden dug up about Shelby, many thanks, John!
RIP Shelby.
Very sad news. Her hard work helped turn this neighborhood around. RIP.
I have so many wonderful memories of you, Shelby. I’ll sure miss you. I still play your song from time to time, and I hope you’ll be listening from Upstairs.
Someone commented on Facebook that she’s helping Mongo string his Christmas lights, and I agree….
My thoughts go out to her family and to all those whose lives she touched.
James and I are so sorry to hear this . Thanks Shelby for all of your tireless efforts to make our wonder Churchill an even more glorious place to live. Rest in Peace
Alot of people talk about making a difference in their community, Shelby took that to a new level. She was an amazing person that touched many lives. The crime reductions and change in Church HIll is largely a reflection of the work that she did.
She was and will remain our “Church Hill Angel”. I know that she is looking down on us with a watchful eye.
You are greatly missed and I am thankful to have known you…
I met Shelby in the ’80’s. She will be missed.
For the benefit of those who don’t use Facebook, this was posted today by Shelby’s daughters:
Thank you to all who have posted your prayers for our family and your memories of Mom! It is so heartwarming to see how many people loved and respected her for her many talents.
We are planning a Celebration of Life Service for Shelby on Saturday, November 14, at 2 p.m. It will be held at Libby Hill Park (28th & Franklin) in Richmond. The informal service will be officiated by Reverend Benjamin Campbell and a reception will follow at Poe’s Pub below the park at 2706 East Main Street.
Thank you Shelby, for that voice on the phone over so many years to keep us all informed and safe. Thank you for being more than a resident or even kindly neighbor, but giving beyond that to help inspire the heart and soul of a community.
Thank you as well for calling me one day to ask if you could give a donation of yarn for the women I would be working with in Guatemala after flooding killed their men.
I have little doubt that there are many,many untold stories of your quietly held kindnesses, that have threaded not only through lives on Church Hill but far beyond.
A life well led, Shelby. Kisses to you in heaven.
Jean Wight
God Speed, Shelby. I ope the lights are twinkling brightly in heaven for you.
oh, so very sad about this. When I think of CH, she’s definitely an integral piece of it. What a wonderful person. I’ve heard that voice on the other line since 1998. RIP Shelby.
Shelby, along with her husband, Bobby, was truly one of “The Pioneers of Church Hill”. Shelby embodied the labor of love that this community through its people,past and present, has so richly been blessed. R.I.P. Shelby We will all be together again.
Shelby and Bobby Long have been our best friends for the past thirty five years. Shelby was instrumental in bringing the police department and the community together in the fight against crime. She was a no nonsense care giver for her community and one of the very best persons that I have ever known. Shelby was a staunch supporter of the Richmond Police Department and helped us to solve many crimes in the Church Hill area. We loved her very much and look forward to seeing her again someday.
Just an FYI – the Church Hill Crime Watch is already in good hands. Some time ago when Shelby’s illness made it difficult for her to run it, another neighbor stepped in to become her second-in-charge to help and eventually take it over. It is now being headed up by Amanda Walker, and it is the same excellent service for our neighborhood as it always has been.
Awesome article on mom thanks for the posting and comments. She was wonderful and will be greatly missed. How can I get hard copies of this article for our family menbers?
Who is lady23?
SHELBY WILL BE MISSED! But knowing and having worked with Amanda in our previous lives, the Church Hill Crime Watch is in good hands.
Condolences to Shelby’s family and friends. I always enjoyed receiving her updates which were the embodiment of professionalism and clearly showed how much she cared about the community.
My dad knew Shelby back in the 1980’s when our neighborhood very different. He sends these words of remembrance about fighting crime with Ms. Long:
“Sorry to learn about this tough gal’s passing, She was a real force. I worked with her on several efforts and together we found the thieves that took the wrought iron gate off the old monastery/ nunnery /retreat over behind WRVA which eventually led to the arrest of some of the principals at G_____ Antiques.”
Indeed, Shelby walked the talk and made our world a safer place. Thank you Shelby, for all your work.
I have known and worked with Shelby since the mid,1970’s. I will miss her and our phone conversations. She would always end by saying “I love You”. Shelby may you rest in peace. Goodbye and I love You. Barbara Munjas