age 86, of Birmingham, Alabama passed away on July 17, 2021. He is survived by his children, Shelly Millender III (Darlene), Derrick Freeman and Vikki Millender-Morrow (Derrick) and his lifelong love, Ms. Brenda Faush and her son, Anre Faush. He is also survived by his loving sisters, Dicksey Marie Battle (Vernon) and Nora Matthews (Herb). Mr. Millender has five grandchildren, Kendall Thomas, Austin Millender Thomas, Chandler Millender-Hooks, Shelby Millender and Shelly Millender IV. Shelly served in the U.S. Army and then graduated from Miles College where he served as a student government president and actively participated in the civil rights movement. Shelly was a charismatic salesman and he began his career at the Coca-Cola Bottling Company and then went on to become one of the first black automobile salesmen of luxury cars in Birmingham. Shelly spent several decades in the automobile industry before transitioning in retirement to hosting a radio talk show called "Let's Talk" where he followed his passion of discussing pressing political and social topics of the day Shelly was a natural leader who was not afraid to take a stance. One of his favorite sayings was "If you don't stand for something, you'll fall for anything." He was a member of Kappa Alpha Psi fraternity. Shelly will be remembered as a devoted father and a man who loved family deeply. Visitation for Mr. Shelly Millender will be on Friday, July 23, 2021 from 6-8 pm at Smith & Gaston Funeral Home. Service will be graveside at Elmwood Cemetery on Saturday, July 24, 2021 at 11 am where he will be buried next to his deceased wife, Doris Ryce Millender. Please observe appropriate COVID protocols. In lieu of flowers, the family respectfully requests donations be made to Miles College in memory of Shelly Millender Jr.