Cecelia Eshelman

Cecelia Eshelman was born in Kissimmee, Florida and was raised in Orlando, Florida. She was born April 15, 1931, and she passed away on August 1, 2025. She graduated from Orlando High School, which was established in 1892 and closed in 1952. She attended high school with John Young, the astronaut, who graduated in 1948.

Her mother was Addie Alman and her father was Cecil Alman of Orlando, Florida. Her sister was Nettie Belle Bird of Orlando, Florida.

Prior to marriage, she was employed by a furniture store and title company in Orlando.

She married James H. Eshelman (Jim) of Everett, Pennsylvania, who was on active duty with the U.S. Air Force stationed in Orlando. They married on October 22, 1954. This October would have marked 71 years of marriage. Jim still lives in their Longwood home.

There are two sons, Wade Eshelman (Jenny - wife) of Longwood, Florida and Bruce Eshelman of St. Augustine, Florida.

She is survived by her grandson, Benjamin Eshelman (Crystal - wife) of New Smyrna Beach, Florida; and nieces, nephews, and grand nieces and nephews from Alabama, Florida, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and South Carolina. She also has a brother-in-law, Charles Richard Eshelman (Evelyn - wife) of Ohio, and a sister-in-law, Linda Eshelman of Florida.

As a youth and young adult, she was nicknamed "Red" from her natural red hair, which she still had at the time of her passing.

She was raised Baptist and attended Delaney Baptist Church. She became a Methodist when she married and was a member of Arlington United Methodist Church in Jacksonville, Florida and, later in life, Bear Lake United Methodist Church in Apopka, Florida.

She will be dearly missed by many.