Flora Ailene Hays Weldon, 92, of Shelbyville, passed away Monday, October 26, 2026, in Shelbyville.

Funeral service will be held at 3:00 p.m., Thursday, October 29, 2026, at Shelbyville Methodist Church in Shelbyville with visitation beginning at 1:00 p.m. Rev. Sherry Harding will officiate. Interment will follow at Strong Cemetery in Huxley.

Born in Lexington, Mississippi, Ailene is the daughter of Edward Doyle Hays and Minnie Ailene Hedrick Hays. She was a high school and college basketball player and cheerleader. She attended Millsaps college, majoring in English and Theology. Ailene was a beloved daughter, wife, mother, sister and grandmother. The devoted wife of a Naval Officer, she served in the Naval Officer wives club for twenty-one years. She loved singing, flowers, sewing, and quilting. Most of all, Ailene loved Jesus. She was an active member in United Methodist Women’s group for over fifty years. She proudly served as a choir director until the age of 91.

She is survived by her sweetheart of 72 years and husband of over 70 years, Commander Joseph “J.D.” Weldon; daughters, Elizabeth Joye (Tim) LaBruyere and Dorris Lynne (Larry) LeBleu; son, Jody (Pat) Weldon; bonus daughter, Jeannette (Chad) Simon; grandchildren: Heidi (Darin) Brenchley, Matthew (Sarah) Frederick, Colton (Saralynn) LaBruyere, Cary Sonnier, Stephenie and Daniel Weldon, Abby (Grant) Trahan, and Mia Simon; great-grandchildren, Emma LaBruyere, Henri Frederick, Anthony and Hays Weldon, and Phoebe Simon; sisters, Kathaleen Bradshaw and Marianne (Randy) Cooper; brother, Edward (Melanie) Hays; nieces and nephews, Ronald (Guillermo) Bradshaw, Scott (Shawn) Bradshaw, Katie (Dustin) Gant, Courtney (Battle) Hamrick, Travis (Rochelle) Hays, Chris (Zan) Mahalitc, Leeanne (Hunter) Beasley, and Jonathan (Brittany) Chandler; a host of great-nieces, nephews, and in-laws; and her beloved grandkitty, Fancy.

Preceded in death by parents, Edward Doyle and Minnie Ailene Hays; brother, William (Buddy) Hays; nephew, Michael Bradshaw; and loving in-laws, R.E. and Ruby Weldon.

The family offers heartfelt gratitude to her loving caregivers, Jimmy, Cindy, Becky, and Charlotte.

Pallbearers will be Darin Brenchley, Larry LeBleu, Matthew Frederick, Colton LaBruyere, Cary Sonnier, and Henri Frederick.

In lieu of flowers, please donate to Shelbyville Methodist Church, or Shelby County Outreach in her memory.

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