Please join me in pausing to remember a true Samaritan Ministry Saint – Irene B. Shelton. Irene played a critical role in developing our Pre-GED program from 2012 – 2016, in addition to being an outstanding volunteer who cared deeply about our participants. In 2013, just a year after she joined us as a volunteer Pre-GED Instructor, we presented Irene with Samaritan Ministry’s Change Agent Award for her dedication and effort on behalf of the organization.
Irene was tireless and provided hundreds – if not thousands – of hours as a volunteer, over 5 years, primarily in the Northwest office but going where she was needed most.
To provide wider educational opportunities to participants and potential participants, Irene created and implemented a pre-GED program at Samaritan Ministry, in collaboration with Tracy Pindell, then our Program Director – and Irene’s daughter! By focusing on those fundamental academic basics, she greatly expanded the ways in which we can help participants in Next Step with specific educational goals.
To be clear, Irene was a driving force behind this initiative – designing and teaching the classes – a program that continued through the pre-pandemic present! Through it all, she was frequently lauded by participants and staff for her quiet, unassuming, friendly, and professional manner.
In that spirit and with the support of her family, we invite memorial contributions in Irene’s honor to be made to Samaritan Ministry. To contribute, please write a check to “SMGW” or “Samaritan Ministry” and mail to Samaritan Ministry, 1516 Hamilton Street, NW, Washington, DC 20011. Please put “In memory of Irene Shelton” in the memo line. If you wish to make an electronic contribution, click here. Again, please indicate “In memory of Irene Shelton” at the prompt. Also, notes of condolence may be sent to her daughter, Ms. Tracy Pindell at this address:
9925 Shoshone Way, Randallstown, MD 21133
To you, Irene, in your new home in the heavens, we say, “Well done, Good and Faithful Servant!”