Mr. Styles Xavier Shippy was an Honor student who was very well rounded. He participated in academically gifted classes beginning in elementary school. Styles was part of 4-H, Cub Scouts, and played many sports during his life including baseball, football, basketball, golf, and wrestling. He achieved the "Arrow of Light" which is the highest rank in Cub Scout and he was "The Varsity Athlete." Styles was a big teddy bear and loved to give others hugs. He could make you laugh even if you were having a bad day. His spirit and smile would light up any room. Although it was discovered in 2015 that there was a tumor at the base of his brain, he did not let that stop him. Styles was due to graduate early, in December of this year, and had received acceptance letters from ECU and Roanoke College. He was offered $21,000 a year to attend Roanoke.

He was preceded in death by his grandmother, Eloise Neal; grandmother and grandfather, Dorthy and Leroy Shippy; great-grandmothers, Ludie White Lytle and Kathie Ellison; great-uncles, Alma Shippy and Ronald Neal, Sr.; and his cousin, Richard Byers, Jr.

Styles is survived by his mother, Ina Shippy; grandmother, Cynthia Shippy; grandfather, Calvin Shippy; aunt, Jennifer Byers; uncles, Leroy Neal, Gary Neal, and Dwayne Neal; great-uncles, Perry Shippy, Micheal Shippy, and Glenn Shippy (Dianne Shippy); as well as a host of cousins, other relatives, and friends.

Funeral services will be held at 1:00pm Saturday, December 8, 2018 at the Russell Funeral Home Chapel. The family visitation will be held from 12:00noon until 1:00pm on Saturday at the Chapel.