Betty L Sheppard

Betty Sheppard joined the Heavenly Choir on April 17, 2020. She enjoyed singing her entire lifetime. She was born in Live Oak, Florida in 1932 to Bryant and Evie Wilson. The family moved to Jacksonville where Betty grew up as a “big city” girl, and returned to Live Oak when she was 15.

In 1949, she married Tom Sheppard, who remained her sweetheart for 70 years. They lived on the farm they purchased shortly after they were married, in the house they built, for over 65 years.

Betty worked at the Sears store in Live Oak for many years, and as a result knew just about everyone in Live Oak, and made many enduring and lasting friendships. She loved serving those who shopped and she also loved to shop.

Betty also joined with her life partner, Tom, with many of his endeavors. She worked with him on the farm with the crops, mostly tobacco. She helped and encouraged him as he started his own electrical company. As a member of Campers on Mission, she worked with Tom helping build churches over the Southeast. She enjoyed living the country life which included growing flowers, vegetables, fishing in the river and having picnics at the local springs.

She loved every minute of being a grandmother and great grandmother and loved to “show and tell” all her friends of every accomplishment of her grandchildren and great grandchildren.

Betty was a long time member of Orange Baptist Church and later Westwood Baptist Church, both in Live Oak. She was active in both churches, singing in the choir, and serving in many ways as she was needed. She served as a teacher, organizer and Treasurer. For years she helped clean the cemetery and chronicled and indexed all the gravesites in the Orange Baptist Cemetery, obtaining markers for as many gravesites as possible for those unmarked.

She was proud to be an American, Floridian, and to live in Live Oak. One of her favorite sayings was, “We do things differently in Live Oak.”

She is survived by her daughter, Cindy Sauls (Sandy), granddaughters, Amy Wright, Cindy Kynoch (Robert), grandson, James Sauls (Shannon), great grandchildren, Genevieve Kynoch, William Kynoch, James Henry Sauls and Audry Ann Sauls, all of Tallahassee. She is also survived by her sister, Louise Spears of Crawfordville and her brother-in-law, Robert Sheppard of Live Oak.

She is predeceased by her husband, Tom Sheppard, son, Tommy Sheppard, granddaughter, Christy Sauls and her parents, Bryant and Evie Wilson.

Because Betty believed that Jesus had paid her sin debt in full, she has been presented faultless before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy.

She had spent considerable time planning her funeral. One of the things Betty wanted at her funeral was for people to stand up and tell a story or remembrance of her. Since this will not be possible at this time, you are invited to sign the guest book and leave stories or remembrances to honor her.

A private family service will be held.