Mr. Thomas Edison "Shep" Shepherd, age 89, beloved husband of Emmeline Wynn Shepherd passed away on Monday afternoon, August 16, 2021 at their home in the Rockledge Community.

Born in Toombs County he was one of eleven children born to the late, Thomas Daniel Shepherd and Hattie Eva Kersey Shepherd.  Born into a family of sharecroppers; they moved as work opportunity presented itself.  As a young child the family moved to Gillis Springs before moving to Soperton in the early 1940s.  Mr. Shepherd was a graduate of Soperton High School, Class of 1949.  After 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 retiring in October of 1984.  During his DOT career he was assigned to Division Seven and was tasked with many major and minor roadway projects.  His first survey interstate team assignment was to lead the survey crew for Interstate 16 to Savannah and his last lead venture before retiring was the survey for the 285 Highway Bypass around  Atlanta.  After retiring he and his wife enjoyed traveling.  They would travel with a daughter, who was a traveling nurse, and visited, Washington State on several occasions, Canada, Branson, Missouri and numerous other locations.

Mr. Shepherd was an avid lifelong Atlanta Braves fan and watched the game Sunday night, just hours before his passing.    If the braves weren't on; he enjoyed his daily newspaper.

He was a lifelong member of the Primitive Baptist Church; 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.

In addition to his parents, he is preceded in death by 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.

Mr. Shepherd leaves behind his wife of 63 years, Emmeline Wynn Shepherd, Rockledge, their children, Anita G. Shepherd, Dublin, GA, Stacy E. Shepherd (Gay), Rockledge, GA, Ricky Shepherd (Deborah), Bonaire, GA, Terry Shepherd (Bonita), Rockledge, GA, Tammy Bayto (Johnny), Dublin, GA, two sisters, Elaine S. Sheffield (Lonnie), Rentz, GA, Hilda S. Hackle (Bobby), Dublin, GA, a sister in law, Annette Shepherd, Soperton, GA, six grandchildren, six great grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews.

Funeral services will be conducted at 2:00 pm on Wednesday, August 18, 2021 from the graveside in Blue Springs Cemetery, Rockledge with Reverend Chris Norris and Elder Sam Bowen officiating.

Mr. Shepherd's family will receive friends at the graveside on Wednesday or friends may call at the family's home.

Serving as pallbearers will be:  Charlie Shepherd, Derrick Shepherd, Danny Shepherd, Hunter Shepherd, Michael Christian and Baron Powell.

Please share a memory, leave a condolence and sign the online guest register.

SAMMONS FUNERAL HOME, The Tradition Since 1917, Soperton, Georgia