Attorney Louis C. Shell, former Petersburg councilman, dies

In 1963, as tension escalated over the injustices of segregation in Petersburg, the City Council established a Biracial Committee to promote better race relations in the city.

Louis C. Shell, an attorney and former councilman, was named chairman -- one of three white residents named to the committee, which was convened to respond to the sit-ins and protests with a resident-led dialogue among community groups.

A year later, the committee drafted a resolution, approved by a 5-1 vote of the Petersburg City Council, to support the voluntary desegregation of businesses and continue to support better relations among Petersburg's racial communities. Petersburg's stance in race relations preceded the 1964 federal Civil Rights Act.

"Louis was very instrumental in offering constructive input, along with a number of other people, to bring Petersburg into the current century," recalled Hermanze E. Fauntleroy Jr., 77, a member of the committee with Shell and who later served as mayor of Petersburg in 1973-74 and 1976-80.

He added that Mr. Shell was "a very even-keel person who always had something constructive to offer. He did a lot to keep us on track."

Mr. Shell died Friday. He was 83. A funeral will be held today, Tuesday, at 2 p.m. at St. Mark's United Methodist Church in Petersburg, followed by burial at 5 p.m. in Blandford Cemetery.

Mr. Shell was born Dec. 8, 1925, on a farm in Dinwiddie County that has been in his family for more than 150 years. He graduated from Dinwiddie High School in a class of 32 students and earned undergraduate and law degrees from the University of Virginia after just four years in 1947.

His career in law and public service had family roots. His grandfather was Richard Cabell Shell, the county judge in Dinwiddie after the Civil War. Mr. Shell's daughter Pamela S. Baskervill is a Circuit Court judge in Petersburg; a granddaughter, Ann Cabell Baskervill, is an assistant commonwealth's attorney in Richmond.

Everything Mr. Shell did "reflected his appreciation of the privileges and the responsibilities of being a member of our society," said Ann Cabell Baskervill, who said her grandfather inspired her to seek a legal career.

Mr. Shell began practicing law in Petersburg in 1947, for nearly 50 years serving as a member of the firm White, Hamilton, Wyche and Shell, P.C. He also served as president of the Petersburg Bar Association.

In 1957, Mr. Shell was appointed to the Petersburg City Council to fill a vacancy left by the death of H. Augustus Miller Jr. He served as vice mayor from 1958 until retiring from the council in 1960.

Mr. Shell was a charter member of St. Mark's and served as chairman of the church's trustees until his death.

He is survived by his wife of 59 years, Barbara Pamplin Shell. In addition to daughter Pamela Baskervill, survivors include another daughter, Patricia S. Caulkins of Waynesboro; and five grandchildren.