Sources |
- [S74] Atchley Funeral Home Records, Volume IV, 1987-1999, Larry D. Fox, (Smoky Mountain Historical Society), 30 Oct 1990.
Benjamin Bruce Branam obituary
- [S142] Newspaper Article, Lexington Herald Leader (KY), 23 Mar 2016.
Confusion surrounds status of Lexington native, husband missing in Belgium
Stephanie and Justin Shults had said goodbye to her mother at airport
They haven't been heard from since explosions in terminal
Relatives retract report that couple had been found alive in hospital
Stephanie and Justin Shults Stephanie and Justin Shults Stephanie and Justin Shults Stephanie and Justin Shults
Stephanie and Justin Shults Facebook
BY MICHAEL MCKAY, GREG KOCHER AND MORGAN EADS
mmckay@herald-leader.com
There was confusion Wednesday afternoon about the status of Lexington native Stephanie Shults and her husband, Justin Shults, who have been missing in Brussels since Tuesday's terrorist attacks.
Relatives initially reported on social media that the U.S. State Department said the two had been found alive at a hospital in Brussels.
About 6:20 p.m., however, Justin Shults' brother Levi Sutton retracted his statement on Twitter. He posted that the family had been misinformed by someone in the State Department.
Betty Newsom, Stephanie Shults' aunt, told the Herald-Leader that reports saying the couple had been found were untrue.
Stephanie's mother, Carolyn Moore, is in Brussels and was told by the State Department that it did not have information indicating the couple had been found, Newsom said.
When contacted Wednesday, a State Department spokesperson said information about the Shultses or confirmation that they had been found could not be released because of "privacy considerations."
State department just told my mom justin & steph were found. We do not know the severity of their injuries or what hospital they're at.
-Popcorn Sutton (@PopcornSutton__) March 23, 2016
We are trying to make sure there is as little misinformation out there as possible so again this is all we know at this time. Keep praying
- Popcorn Sutton (@PopcornSutton__) March 23, 2016
Stephanie Shults, 29, a graduate of Bryan Station High School and Transylvania University, and Justin, 30, have been missing since two explosions in a terminal of the Brussels airport, Newsom said Tuesday. The couple live in Belgium and were seeing off Stephanie's mother at the terminal.
Sutton told NBC News late Tuesday that the State Department told him "the pair were not on any casualty list, and both their phones were going straight to voice mail."
Mars Inc., the company for which Stephanie Shults works, said in a statement Wednesday that it had not been able to contact the couple.
The U.S. company, which has headquarters for some of its brands in Brussels, has been in touch with Shults' mother, and some of her co-workers got an adapter for Moore's cellphone charger so she could stay in contact with family, Newsom said.
Moore remained at a hotel near the airport, Newsom said. "They are keeping her at the hotel because that seems to be where the information is coming when they find people."
Moore, Newsom's sister, was in the airport preparing to leave Brussels after spending a week with her daughter and son-in-law.
Moore called her husband, Geary, "and said there had been an explosion and that it had knocked her down," Newsom said. "She had not been able to find Stephanie and Justin."
Justin Shults works for a company called Clarcor, and he often flies between the United States and Belgium. He and his wife are certified public accountants; they met while getting their master's degrees at Vanderbilt University in Nashville.
The Tennessean published a statement Wednesday that was released by U.S. Senator Bob Corker on behalf of the families of Justin and Stephanie Shults.
"At this time, neither Belgium nor U.S. officials have confirmed that Justin and Stephanie Shults have been located. We are thankful for the outpouring of love and support we have received at this difficult time and ask for prayers for Justin and Stephanie," the families said in the statement.
- [S23] Atchley Funeral Home, (http://www.atchleyfuneralhome.com/), 22 Mar 2016.
March 22, 2016
Resided in Belgium
Justin Blake Shults, 30, and his wife Stephanie Michele Moore Shults, 29, passed away March 22, 2016. Justin was born in Gatlinburg, TN he was the son of Sheila and Jon Shell, and Jeffrey Shults and the late Bonita Shults. Stephanie was born in Lexington, KY and was the daughter of Geary and Carolyn Moore. Justin attended Gatlinburg Pittman High School and later attended Vanderbilt University. Stephanie attended Bryan Station High School, Transylvania University, and later Vanderbilt where both she and Justin participated in the MACC program together. They moved to Brussels, Belgium, after residing in Nashville, TN, where they enjoyed traveling and spending time together outdoors with their two dogs Sammy and Lucy. Justin is survived by his parents; his sister Tiffany (Richard) Ristine; brothers, Levi Sutton, and Chad Shults; stepbrother, Duncan Pulliam; stepsister, Keela Honeycutt; nieces, Cambri, Aftyn, and Brinley Ristine; grandparents, Bobby and Lucille Shults; aunts and uncles, Mike (Karon) Shults, Darlene (Joe) Metcalf, Ricky (Rexene) Shults, Debbie (Gary) Vargo, and Dale Branam; as well as numerous special cousins, extended family members, and friends. Stephanie is survived by her parents; and her sister Holly (Bo) Wood.
Funeral services will be held 2pm Friday, April 8, at Southland Christian Church on Harrodsburg Road, Lexington, KY. Visitation will be held 3-8pm Thursday and 10-2pm Friday at Southland Christian Church – Harrodsburg Rd. (Building B). Kerr Brothers Funeral Home – Harrodsburg Rd, Lexington, KY is in charge of arrangements.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Nashville Zoo, www.nashvillezoo.org, Vanderbilt University (MACC Program), Vanderbilt University Owen Graduate School of Management, 401 21st Avenue South, Nashville, TN 37203,
A Memorial Scholarship Fund in honor of Justin and Stephanie Shults has been established at Citizens National Bank, c/o Christi Sutton, 2661 Parkway, Pigeon Forge, TN 37863. This scholarship will awarded annually to a graduating Gatlinburg Pittman High School student.
A memorial for Justin and Stephanie will be held at 4 PM Sunday, April 10 at Richardson's Cove Baptist Church, Sevierville. The family will receive friends 1-3:45 PM Sunday at the church. Atchley Funeral Home, Sevierville, will be in charge of the arrangements. Online condolences may be made at www.atchleyfuneralhome.com
- [S58] Marriage Certificate.
55147 JEFFREY BLAKE SHULTS SHELIA MAE BRANAM
- [S149] The Official Marriage Records of Sevier County Tennessee 1972 - 1981, Volume IV, Smoky Mountain Historical Society, (Copyright 2008), ISBN 1-890150-00-6.
- [S131] Divorce Record.
Husband's Name Wife's First Name Wife's Maiden Name County Court Date of Divorce File #
SHULTS JEFFREY B SHELIA B [NOT GIVEN] SEVIER [NOT GIVEN] 03-09-1984 05477
- [S58] Marriage Certificate.
Groom's Name Bride's First Name Bride's Maiden Name County Date of Marriage File #
SHULTS JEFFREY SHEILA B [NOT GIVEN] COCKE 01-14-1985 00259
- [S131] Divorce Record.
Husband's Name Wife's First Name Wife's Maiden Name County Court Date of Divorce File #
SHULTS JEFFREY B SHEILA B [NOT GIVEN] SEVIER CHANCERY 01-19-1989 00698
- [S142] Newspaper Article, 17 Apr 2011.
Shults-Moore Engagement
Geary and Carolyn Moore are pleased to announce the engagement of their daughter Stephanie Moore of Lexington KY to Justin Shults son of Jeffery Shults and Shelia King of Gatlinburg, TN. Stephanie and Justin received their masters from Vanderbilt University and work for Ernst & Young. The wedding will take place July 3, 2011 in TN.
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