Mrs. Barbara Story Sheppard Cowart, age 87, of Heards Bridge Road in Washington County, passed away on Saturday, November 6, 2021, in the Wrightsville Manor Nursing Home following an extended illness. A funeral service to celebrate her life will be held on Tuesday, November 9th, 2021, at 11:00 A.M. in the Josey Baptist Church on Heards Bridge Road with burial in the Church Cemetery. Reverend Brant Kennedy will officiate. Pallbearers will be William Bowles Jr., Robert Cason, Luke Ezell, Tony Fulwood III, Matthew Green, Travis Green, Donnie Huth, Justin Huth, Patrick Mock, and B.J. Thompson. The family will receive friends on Tuesday from 10:00 A.M. until the hour of service at the church.
Mrs. Cowart was born in Jefferson County, the daughter of the late Harrison Story Sr. and the late Ethel Faglier Story. She was raised near Louisville learning lessons of hard work and dedication in her formative years by walking to school across the old steel bridge. Early in her life, Barbara married her first husband, Ralph Everett Sheppard. Mrs. Cowart became a homemaker and began raising their large family. Later in life and following the death of Ralph, she married Cleveland Cowart. Barbara was a longtime and active member of the Josey Baptist Church. She worked several jobs in the later years of her life on a peach farm, at Lewis’ Lake, at Delilah’s Curtain Manufacturers, and lastly as a personal caregiver. Mrs. Cowart claimed her family as her greatest joy and biggest blessing in life. In addition to her parents, she is predeceased by her son, Danny Sheppard; grandson, Corey Thomas Cowart; and siblings.
Survivors include, her children, Sandra Ruth S. Waters (Wayne) of Davisboro, Everett Ralph Sheppard (Connie) of Harrison, Brenda Nell S. Cowart (Joel) of Wadley, Debbie Lue S. Wilcher (Ronnie) of Riddleville, Bobby Ralph Sheppard (Dianne) of Davisboro, Peggy Ann C. Davis (Tommy) of Riddleville, and Thomas Cleveland Cowart of Riddleville; 10 grandchildren; 21 great-grandchildren; and siblings, Virginia S. Utley of Burke County, Wayne Story (Sandra) of Bartow, and Patricia S. Hadden (Gene) of Louisville.
Donations in Mrs. Cowart’s memory may be made to the Josey Baptist Church or to the Alzheimer Association.
Online condolences may be expressed at mayandsmithfuneraldirectors.com.
May and Smith Funeral Directors is in charge of these arrangements.