Shine On, Shelby

A radiant young woman’s joy, courage and generosity continue to move a community determined to carry her light forward after her death at the age of 22.

Tiffany McWaters spoke with heartfelt conviction when discussing the life and legacy of her beloved daughter. “Shelby was the absolute best of us,” she said. Just over a year after 22-year-old Shelby Faith McWaters passed away, her memory continues to inspire and energize a community forever changed by her zest for life and love for others.

“Anybody who ever met her would tell you she was just the brightest, happiest person in the world,” Tiffany said. “She was just keenly aware of people and wanted everybody to be happy.”

It seems remarkable that someone so compassionate toward others would have come into the world with so many needs of her own. “We knew at 18 weeks [pregnant that] there were going to be severe issues,” Tiffany said. “We made it to 34 weeks.” Shelby was born one minute after her sister, Ivy, and weighed almost twice as much at seven pounds, seven ounces. “The first presenting issue was her head was much larger than it needed to be,” Tiffany said. Fluid continued to accrue inexplicably in various parts of her body. “For the first couple of years, we didn’t know what it was,” Tiffany said. “She didn’t fit in any boxes.” Finally, Shelby was diagnosed with Klippel-Trenaunay Syndrome, an extremely rare congenital disorder characterized by capillary and venous malformations and limb overgrowth. There is no known cause or cure for KTS. “Physically, if you looked at her, you could tell something was a little bit off,” Tiffany said, “with the right side of her body uniformly larger all the way down.” Shelby received speech, occupational and physical therapy multiple times a week throughout her life.

“Anybody who ever met her would tell you she was just the brightest, happiest person in the world.”
Tiffany McWaters

There would be more surgeries and challenges in the years ahead, but they would do little to diminish Shelby’s cheerful disposition.

“She was completely oblivious to all that she had to fight and endure,” Tiffany said. The perception that she might not be “like everyone else” did not faze her, according to her father, Chris. “Shelby was very outgoing, very sure of herself,” he said. “[Her attitude was], ‘I came a little different, that’s OK,’ and she moved on.” If there was the rare occasion when she thought someone was “being ugly” to her, she would respond as her mother had taught her. “‘You must be having a bad day because I’m fabulous,’” Tiffany said. “She fully believed it.”

Shelby required cognitive support throughout her school years but thrived in the welcoming environment of Covington Academy, where there was a sizable special-needs population. “Physically, she could do pretty much what everybody else could do,” Tiffany said. Shelby participated in karate and golf and served as the high school football manager. She was also involved in the Builders Club and Drama Club, and she ultimately graduated with honors.

From the time she was a little girl, Shelby displayed a generous spirit, which may have shined brightest at Christmas. Whether filling gift boxes at church, handing out Chick-fil-A gift cards to first responders or making sure the family’s Candy Cane Lane did not run out of candy canes, she gave with pure joy—apparently keeping the family focused and on task in the process. As Ivy said, “She was the CEO of Christmas.”

Chris’ successful career as a national director with J.E. Dunn Construction provided the family needed flexibility. When Shelby faced multiple surgeries as a fifth-grader, Tiffany cut short her career as an educator to care for her. “Chris has made it to where I could always be at home with the girls,” Tiffany said. “He’s been our calm and steady the whole time.” Chris frequently took Tiffany and Shelby along with him on business trips. “Shelby loved to see new places, try new foods, meet new people,” Tiffany said. “As she got older, she loved to tell dad jokes,” Chris said. It was a game she thoroughly enjoyed playing with her father and his business associates.

The sisters were always close.

“To Shelby, Ivy was the coolest person in the world,” Tiffany said. “They did everything together.” The two often went on “sister dates” to get theme-painted fingernails for a holiday or season. “Shelby never didn’t have her nails done—ever,” Tiffany said. “If it wasn’t a holiday, it was cheetah print, because everything in her life was cheetah print.” After Ivy left for college at Georgia Southern University in Statesboro, she sometimes invited her sister down for a visit. As Shelby put it, she got to “go and be a college kid for a weekend.”

With Ivy living three hours away, the rest of the family moved from rural Social Circle to downtown Covington, in part, to give the extroverted Shelby more opportunities to connect socially. Shelby thrived in her new surroundings, happily cruising around The Square on the family golf cart, chatting with friends and working part-time at The Soapbox.

“She absolutely loved it,” Tiffany said, “because she was such a people person.”

Tragically, on Dec. 13, 2024, five days after suffering a stroke, Shelby’s life was cut short. On the way home from the hospital the day she died, the grieving family resolved that the light Shelby had brought into the world would not go out. “We didn’t want people to forget who she was and how much joy she brought people,” Tiffany said. On Jan. 14, 2025, just a month and a day after Shelby’s death, the Shelby Shines On Foundation was launched. The newly formed 501c3 charity began with the primary purpose of facilitating enriching experiences for those with disabilities. “It was important to us to provide the means for families with special needs to participate and do things that their peers get to do: Go to Braves games, go ice skating, just do what everybody else does,” Tiffany said. In addition, scholarships are awarded to high school students who demonstrate inclusion and respect for peers with special needs. The foundation also funds efforts to advance research and awareness for Klippel-Trenaunay Syndrome.

Three major fundraising events reflect Shelby’s passions and vibrant personality. Thanks to over a hundred players and numerous corporate and local sponsors, the Shelby Shines On Golf Tournament was the highest grossing tournament ever at Ashton Hills Golf Course. The SSO Glitz and Gears Car Show also impressed. “I think we had over 50 cars show up in the rain,” Chris said. “Fair food, nice cars and people—to Shelby, that was a perfect day,” Tiffany said. Shelby loved to dress up for daddy-daughter dates and she adored Christmastime, making the SSO Christmas Gala’s night of celebration and connection a fabulous and fitting finish to the year. Beyond all expectations, over $100,000 was raised to fund the foundation’s objectives for 2025. “That’s a testament to Shelby and the impact she had on people,” Tiffany said.

The McWaters are forever grateful for the love shown to Shelby while she lived and for the support received since her passing through the foundation bearing her name. Chris called Tiffany’s sister, Shannon, “a big part of Shelby’s life” and a rock through difficult times. Those who have helped with the foundation and its mission to carry Shelby’s light forward form a long list.

“Our slogan is ‘Love Loudly, Live Boldly’ because that’s what she did,” Tiffany said. “She was unapologetically Shelby.”

For information on Shelby Shines On Foundation, visit shelbyshineson.org.

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