ACTON, Shuckie J. (Overton)

Shuckie Jane Overton Acton Shuckie Jane Overton Acton, 59, of Valdosta, died June 11, 2007, at South Georgia Medical Center after a brief illness. She was born in Cherokee, Okla., to the late Marion and Phoebe Overton. She was raised in Altus, Okla., where she graduated from Altus High School. Mrs. Acton received her Bachelor of Arts degree from Oklahoma College of Liberal Arts with a double major in deaf education and speech correction. Graduate work was completed at Oakland University in Rochester Hills, Mich., and Wayne State University in Detroit, Mich., where certifications in early childhood and special education administration were received. Mrs. Acton began her career at Shawnee Park Oral Deaf School in Grand Rapids, Mich., where she taught preschool-age children with hearing impairments and served as a parent advisor. She moved to Clinton Township, Mich., and was employed by the Macomb Intermediate School District to assist in developing a program for infants-toddlers who were hearing impaired. Later, she served as an early interventionist and preschool specialist for children with hearing impairments and as a speech therapist in the Macomb Infant-Preschool Program. She served children ages birth to three years and their families. At the Lapeer Intermediate School District in Lapeer, Mich., she was a teacher consultant for the hearing impaired and a supervisor to the Early Intervention/Preschool Programs in Special Education. Mrs. Acton was active in many professional organizations, often serving on boards and as officers. She authored and published professional articles and authored and received grants for services for birth to three year olds with disabilities and their families. She presented professionally on national, regional, state and local levels. After retiring and moving to Valdosta, Mrs. Acton was a parent advisor for Georgia Pines, active in assisting with Babies CanÆt Wait and was a Newborn Hearing Orientation Specialist. She was an avid bridge player. She received her Life Master and was an instructor of bridge for Valdosta State UniversityÆs Learning in Retirement Program. She was also active as a manager for the Valdosta Duplicate Bridge Club and taught various groups of people the game she loved. Mrs. Acton was active in the Valdosta Community. She served as a board member for the Senior Citizens Center and was active in the Newborn Hearing Regional Committee. Survivors include her husband of 37 years, Ronald Acton of Valdosta; son, Tony and his fiancT Shannon Yalamas of Phoenix, Ariz.; cousin, Nancy Glasgow of Muncie, Ind.; uncle, O.C. (Buck) Elsea of Oklahoma City, Okla.; mother-in-law, Jean Acton of St. Louis, Mich.; sisters-in-law and brothers-in-law, Carolyn and Ron Feltman of St. Louis, Mich., Larry and Laurene Acton of Clare, Mich.; six nieces and nephews; and 11 great nieces and nephews. A visitation will be held at Carson McLane Funeral Home on Friday, June 15, 2007, from 4:30 -5 p.m. with a brief memorial service to follow. Internment will be in the Oak Grove Cemetery in St. Louis, Mich., at a later date. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the American Cancer Society.