Walter Eugene “Walt” Shinault

Walter Eugene “Walt” Shinault was born January 29, 1960, in Memphis, Tennessee to Drue W. Shinault Jr. and Doris Shinault. He died March 14, 2025, after a brief illness only recently celebrating his 65th birthday.

From the age of four, he was raised by his grandparents Mr. and Mrs. Gordon Pope in Tunica, Mississippi. He attended the Tunica Institute of Learning where he excelled in sports and graduated with academic honors in 1978. Throughout his teen years, Walt always had a job from working in the fields’ spot spraying cotton to working at the local Piggly Wiggly. Walt was always a hard worker.

He enrolled at the University of Mississippi in the fall of 1978 and was a member of the Phi Kappa Tau social fraternity. Walt was chosen to be an Ole Miss Cheerleader. On February 21, 1980, while practicing various cheerleading stunts on a mini-trampoline, Walt suffered a life changing injury, becoming a Quadriplegic paralyzed from his neck down. Never one to quit, Walt was back at Ole Miss the following fall after only six months. He never complained about being in a wheelchair saying “most people put on shoes, I put on a chair”. He graduated in May of 1984 with a BBA degree on the Chancellor’s Academic Honor Roll.

After graduation, Walt moved to Jackson and began working with Merrill Lynch. In 1993 he moved to Tupelo, Mississippi when Merrill opened an office there. He stayed with Merrill until 2012 when he joined Wells Fargo Advisors. He remained at Wells Fargo for twelve years until he joined Ameriprise Financial in September 2024 where he was employed when he became ill.

Walt served on the Board of Directors of the Mississippi Easter Seal Society eventually becoming President. For several years, he also served as a representative to the National Easter Seal office in Chicago. In 1989 Walt was selected to be the Adult Representative for the National Easter Society. Walt traveled the country for Easter Seals including Washington, D.C. where he was honored with a reception at the nation’s capital and met with President George H. W. Bush in the Oval Office at the White House. He appeared on the National Easter Seal Telethon from Hollywood with Pat Boone who nick named him “Walt No Fault Shinault” due to his being in finance.

In May 2015, Walt realized one of this dreams when he moved back to Oxford which he always referred to as “God’s Country”. Walt and his friend Jeff Covington, built a house at the Country Club of Oxford where on a warm and sunny day, you could see Walt riding up and down the streets and the golf cart paths in his chair stopping to talk to anyone and everyone. Walt was truly a people person.

Walt was a true Christian who was very serious about his faith in Christ. He said his prayers nightly. While in Tupelo he attended Hope Church and in Oxford, he joined Christ Presbyterian Church. His favorite Bible verse was Philippians 4:13 which says, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me”. He said he wanted that on his tombstone when the time came.

Walt is survived by his sister Mignon Cumberland (Bobby) from Florence, Mississippi, brother Drue W. Shinault III (Kimberly) from Lindale, Texas, his aunt Lynda Andrews (Steve) from Olive Branch, Mississippi, and several nephews and cousins. He is also survived by his best friend, companion and caregiver, Jeff Covington of Oxford. He also leaves behind Marvin Crayton, who for 28 years was Walt’s faithful attendant providing the best care one could give.

Walt was preceded in death by his parents, grandparents and by his younger sister Patricia Haven of Tunica.

A memorial service will be held Saturday, March 22, 2025, at 1:00 P.M. at Christ Presbyterian Church in Oxford. Visitation will be at the church two hours prior to the service, beginning at 11:00 A.M.

As was his request, Walt’s ashes will be interred at a later date at Bailey Presbyterian Church Cemetery in Meridian.

Expressions of sympathy or memorial contributions in Walt’s memory may be made to Christ Presbyterian Church, 901 Sisk Avenue, Oxford, MS 38655.