Funeral services for Virgil Clyde Shepard, 78, will be at 4 p.m., Saturday, Sept. 7, 2019, at Cordele First Baptist Church. The family will receive friends at the funeral home from 6 p.m. until 8 p.m., Friday, Sept. 6, 2019. Burial will follow at Sunnyside Cemetery.
Mr. Shepard died Thursday, Sept. 5, 2019, at his residence surrounded by his loving wife and children. He was born in Cordele, Ga. to Annie Clyde Collins Shepard and Vernon Shepard. He was a retired salesman for Wells Hardware. He was licensed minister and an active member of Cordele First Baptist Church where he served as a Deacon and Sunday School Teacher. He was also active in community sports serving as a Little League coach for 25+ years and also at Crisp Academy he served as their softball coach. He was instrumental in starting girls’ softball in Cordele Little League and Crisp County High School. He graduated in 1961 from Dooly County High School. He was a very gifted athlete and played baseball, football, basketball and ran track.
He is survived by his wife of 55 years: Linda Ford Shepard of Cordele; his children: Brian (Debbie) Shepard of Warner Robins, Ga., Bruce (Kristen) Shepard of Bella Vista, Ark. And Laurie (Lynne) Shepard of Cumming, Ga.; his brother: Bobbie (Susan) Shepard of Albany, Ga.; his grandchildren: Lindsey (Brett) Mathews, Emily (Richard) Gatton, Lauren (Taylor) Liston, Ashley (Joseph) Bradley, Haley (Nick) Hartman, Matthew Shepard, Gavin Shepard and Jadyn Shepard; and his great-grandchild: Peyton Liston.
Should friends desire, contributions may be sent to Reflections Hospice, 202 E 4th Ave, Cordele, GA 31015, your local hospice or to the Michael J. Fox Foundation (michaeljfox.org/donate) in Virgil’s name.