Born on May 22, 1930 in Woodsdale, NC, he was the son of the late Joe Edward and Lelia Epps Shepherd. Mr. Shepherd served in the U.S. Navy for 20 years as an Aircraft Mechanic. Following retirement from the U.S. Navy, he worked 8 years before fully retiring and enjoying life at home with his wife and grandchildren.. Joe was a Charter Member of Callaway Baptist Church and served faithfully in various ministries there throughout the past 35 years.
He is survived by his wife, Alice Ruth Stewart Shepherd, whom he married on September 11, 1948 in South Boston, VA, three daughters, Mary Cumers and her husband John of Mechanicsville, MD, Ruth Byrd and her husband Joe Mel of Pocomoke, MD, Barbara Capulli and her husband Dan of Plano, TX, two sons, Ronnie Shepherd of Hunnington Beach, CA, Arthur Shepherd and his wife Linda of Bushwood, MD, nine grandchildren, one sister, Lila Smith of Conway, NC, eight brothers, Moses Shepherd of Roxboro, NC, Jimmy Shepherd of Richmond, VA, Harold Shepherd of Portsmouth, VA, Keith Shepherd of Roxboro, NC, Noel Shepherd of Charlotte, NC, Cecil Shepherd of Richmond, VA, Arthur Shepherd of Glen Allen, VA and Richard Shepherd of Morrisville, NC.
The family will receive friends on Sunday, November 30, 2003 from 3:00 p.m. until 6:00 p.m.at the Brinsfield Funeral Home, P.A. in Leonardtown, MD. A Funeral Service will be conducted on Monday, December 1, 2003 at 11:00 a.m. at Callaway Baptist Church. Pastor Daniel Moore will conduct the service. Interment will follow in Evergreen Memorial Gardens.
Serving as pallbearers will be Moses Shepherd, Jimmy Shepherd, Harold Shepherd, Keith Shepherd, Noel Shepherd, Cecil Shepherd, Arthur Shepherd and Richard Shepherd.
Memorial contributions may be to the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, 10946 Beaver Dam Road, Suite E, Hunt Valley, MD 21030 or the Callaway Baptist Church Building Fund, 20960 Point Lookout Road, Callaway, MD 20620.
