Deacon Johnny B. Sheppard

Obituary For Deacon Johnny B. Sheppard

A celebration of life honoring Deacon Johnny B. Sheppard, 83 of Childersburg will be held at 1:00 p.m. on Saturday, June 1, 2024, at Mt. Olive Missionary Baptist Church, Childersburg. Interment will be in the church cemetery. Deacon Sheppard will lie in state at the church one hour prior to the service. Visitation will be from 1-7 p.m. on Friday, May 31, 2024, at the funeral home.

Deacon Johnny B. Sheppard began life’s journey on May 24, 1940, in Talladega, Alabama to the union of Willie Sheppard and Julia Capers.

Mr. Sheppard was a lifelong member of Mt. Olive Missionary Baptist Church where he served faithfully as a deacon, usher, trustee and sang with the male choir. He concluded his education at Phyllis Wheatley High School and went on to dedicate several years in the construction industry working for such companies as Ceco and Brasfield & Gorrie. The skills he obtained throughout his career made Johnny quite the skilled craftsman around his home.

At the age of 15 ½ while Johnny was supposed to be working in the fields picking cotton, a 13 ½ year old young lady caught his attention. From that moment on a love between those two kids was established that lasted nearly 70 years. On February 18, 1962, took the hand of the former Willie Ann Cook in holy matrimony. Johnny loved his wife and their family. The family was often inspired by his love for God and his church, entertained by his comedic antics and impressed by his taste for fashion. He also enjoyed watching sports, planting flowers and gardening during his free time.

Memories of Deacon Sheppard will remain in the heart of his loving and dedicated wife of 62 years, Willie Ann Sheppard of Childersburg, Alabama; seven daughters, Sharon (Buford) Cook of Childersburg, Alabama, Wanda (Jackie) Wilson of Alpine, Alabama, Sandra Sheppard, Regina Sheppard, Patricia Sheppard, Katrina Sheppard (Ernest Garrett) of Childersburg, Alabama and Johnnie M. Vaughn of Cleveland, Ohio; eleven grandchildren and thirteen great grandchildren; two sisters, Cheryl McCoy and Rhonda Sheppard of Jacksonville, Florida; three brothers-in-law, Jerry Cook of Sylacauga, Alabama, Eddie Dean (Renee) Cook of Atlanta, Georgia and Sherman (Sylvia) Cook of Alpine, Alabama; two sisters-in-law, Mary Sheppard and Mattie (Charles) Hardy of Atlanta, Georgia; a special niece, Juliette Russell of Sylacauga, Alabama; special cousin, Lorene Capers of Selma, Alabama; special friends, Rev. Randy Jones of Alpine, Alabama, Rev. Eric Richardson of Talladega, Alabama and Deacon Darryl Mallory of Alpine, Alabama; and a host of other relatives and friends.

On the evening of May 24, 2024, the Lord saw that Johnny B. had gotten tired, so he traded this life for his eternal reward. He was preceded in passing by two children, Michael D. Sheppard and Barbara Sheppard; his parents, Willie Sheppard and Julia Capers; and six siblings, Willie Sheppard, Jr., Gladys Wilson, Jimmy Lewis Sheppard, Mark Sheppard, Willie Dean Lenzie and Howard Sheppard.

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