Francis Shackelford was born in Georgia and educated at Princeton University and Harvard Law School.
Shackelford loved his career at Alston, Miller & Gaines to the extent that he and his partners eventually dubbed it "The Happy Firm".
Shackelford also served as general counsel of Magic Chef, a position he would hold until his death twenty years later.
Shackelford was married to the former Renee Marie Fletcher, and was living in Atlanta, Georgia at the time of his death.
[2] After Shackelford underwent open heart surgery in Birmingham, Alabama, doctors were unable to revive him, and he died on November 30, 1973.