Mrs. Jean Miller Sheppard, age 97, of Sandersville passed away on Saturday, September 24, 2022, at the Heritage Inn of Sandersville. A graveside funeral service to celebrate her life will be held on Wednesday, September 28th at 11:00 A.M. in the Brownwood Cemetery of Sandersville. Reverend Lee Lacey and Reverend Andy Yates will officiate. The family will receive friends on Tuesday, September 27th from 4:00 P.M. until 6:00 P.M. in the May and Smith Funeral Home.
Mrs. Sheppard was born in Cordele, Georgia, the daughter of the late Cleve Bivins Miller, Sr. and the late Jessica Gamble Pless Miller. She relocated to Washington County with her family as a teenager and graduated from the Sandersville High School. Jean would attend North Georgia College until the United States entered World War II and she returned home. Mrs. Sheppard then met and married her husband, the late Charles Edward Sheppard, raising their children on the family farm. She worked as a Bookkeeper for Sheppard and Son Land Reclamation Company. Jean was a longtime and active member of the First Baptist Church of Sandersville. Mrs. Sheppard was also a member of the Jarid Irwin Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution and a charter member of the Washington County Historical Society and the Town and Country Garden Club. Jean was an avid bridge player, enjoying games played with close friends.
Survivors include her children, David Sheppard and his wife Mary Ann of Cartersville, Jessica S. Heldreth and her husband Charles of Sandersville, Edward Alan Sheppard and his wife Mary Jo of Sandersville, and Leona S. Rogers and her husband Rhonie of Sandersville; grandchildren, Niki Murray, Melissa Abernathy and husband Allen, John David Sheppard, Charles Henry Heldreth III and wife Jennifer, Daniel Miller Heldreth and wife Mandy, Matthew Neil Heldreth and wife Lauren, Edward Alan Sheppard, Jr. and wife Elizabeth, Rebecca Chapman and husband Gregory, Samuel Luthur Rogers and wife Kalen, and Amy Jessica Rogers and husband Lindsey; 18 great-grandchildren; and one-great-great grandchild.
The family suggests that donations be made to the charity of the donor’s choice in memory of Mrs. Sheppard.
Online condolences may be expressed at mayandsmithfuneraldirectors.com.
May and Smith Funeral Directors is in charge of these arrangements.