Mrs. Shirley Jean Davenport Sheppard, age 77, a resident of Post Road, Bath, died Monday, Oct. 21, 2019 at Vidant Medical Center in Greenville.

The family will receive friends from 4 to 6 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 23, 2019 at Free Union Free Will Baptist Church, Free Union Church Road, Pinetown. A memorial service will follow in the sanctuary of the church at 6 p.m., conducted by Pastor Tony Parrish and Pastor Jason Lineberger.

Mrs. Sheppard was born in Beaufort County on Jan. 28, 1942. She was the daughter of the late Samuel Hezekiah Davenport and Katie Keech Davenport. Mrs. Sheppard was a retired clerk with Beaufort County Tax Assessor’s office. She was a member of Free Union Free Will Baptist Church, sang in the church choir and was a past member of the Ladies’ Auxiliary of the church. Mrs. Sheppard loved to sing and enjoyed singing with the “Backyard Gospel Group.”

To her family, she was a loving wife and mother. On December 3, 1960 she married Arthur Earl Sheppard, who survives. Surviving with her husband are her children, Dwight Earl Sheppard and his wife, Minerva B. Sheppard and their son, Tilton Earl Nestor; Jeffery Scott Sheppard and his wife, Lorrie Harris Sheppard of Pinetown, and their daughters, Brandy Lee Moore (Brad) and their daughters, Bailey and Jamison and son, Jonah; Candy Radcliff (LeWayne) and their son, Barrett; and Colby Woolard; Kathy Sheppard Flannagan Arnold and her husband, Gregory Arnold of Washington; and their sons, Jason Arnold (Kristen) and their daughters, Kennedy and Karrigan, and son, Korbyn, Colin Cratch Arnold (deceased), Morgan Arnold; Leland Sheppard Flannagan; Vickie Crafford and her husband, Scott of Ayden and her son, Scott Ebright (Amanda) and their sons, Caden and Jacob; daughter, Tisha Mahon; son, T.C. Crafford (Tiffany) and their daughter, Adelyn and son, Hunter Crafford (Jamie); sister, Elva Rae Hardison of Grifton and brother, Wayne Davenport of Pinetown.

In addition to her parents and grandson, Mrs. Sheppard was preceded in death by a sister, Effie Moore and three brothers, Elmer Davenport, Alvin Davenport and Thurman Davenport.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Marion L. Shepard Cancer Center, 1209 Brown Street, Washington, N.C. 27889. Online condolences may be offered to the family by visiting www.paulfuneralhome.com. Paul Funeral Home & Crematory in Washington is honored to serve the Sheppard family.