Mr. Thomas Shepherd

Mr. Thomas Edison “Shep” Shepherd, age 89, of the Rockledge Community, died on Monday, August 16, 2021, at his home.

Mr. Shepherd was born in Toombs County. As a young child, the family moved to Gillis Springs before moving to Soperton in the early 1940s. He was a 1949 graduate of Soperton High School. He worked for the Georgia Department of Transportation for a short time before serving in the United States Army. Upon being honorably discharged, he rejoined the Department of Transportation, where he worked as a transportation highway project engineer until he retired in October 1984. He was a lifelong member of the Primitive Baptist Church, serving for many years as a deacon at Oak Chapel Primitive Baptist and most recently attended and served as a deacon at Union Primitive Baptist in Swainsboro. He was preceded in death by his parents, Thomas Daniel Shepherd and Hattie Eva Kersey Shepherd; and his siblings, Merle S. Holton, Mildred Shepherd, Madie S. Smith, Mattie Kate Shepherd, infant, Doris Nell Shepherd, Faye S. Coleman Wood, Betty S. Duffee and Ezra Darvin Shepherd.

Survivors include his wife of 63 years, Emmeline Wynn Shepherd, Rockledge; his children, Anita G. Shepherd, Dublin, Stacy E. Shepherd (Gay), Rockledge, Ricky Shepherd (Deborah), Bonaire, Terry Shepherd (Bonita), Rockledge, and Tammy Bayto (Johnny), Dublin; 2 sisters, Elaine S. Sheffield (Lonnie), Rentz, and Hilda S. Hackle (Bobby), Dublin; 1 sister-in-law, Annette Shepherd, Soperton; 6 grandchildren; 6 great-grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews.

A graveside funeral service was conducted on Wednesday, August 18, 2021, at 2:00 p.m., in Blue Springs Cemetery in Rockledge, with Rev. Chris Norris and Elder Sam Bowen officiating.

Pallbearers were Charlie Shepherd, Derrick Shepherd, Danny Shepherd, Hunter Shepherd, Michael Christian and Baron Powell.

Sammons Funeral Home in Soperton was in charge of arrangements.