Alva T. Shepherd

Alva Theodore Shepherd passed away quietly at home in North Myrtle Beach, SC on Friday, August 22, 2025, following a lengthy illness.

He was born in Pulaski, Virginia on April 8,1941 to James Augustus Shepherd and Dorothy Gallemore Shepherd. Deceased.

Ted graduated from Pulaski High School in 1961. He obtained an Associate Degree from Ferrum College in Ferrum, VA, a BS from Concord College, Athens, WV, and a MEd from Widener University, Chester, PA.

He was very involved in Boy Scouts as a youth in Pulaski and achieved the level of Eagle Scout. He later spent many summers working as the waterfront director at BSA Camp Powhatan in Hiwassee, VA. Ted played several sports throughout high school and college. He was a West Virginia Intercollegiate Athletic Conference All-Conference basketball player and a member of Sigma Tau Gamma Fraternity at Concord where he received the Stan Musial Sportsmanship Award.

He worked as a teacher and coach at Princeton Junior High School, Princeton, WV, Sussex Central Junior High, Millsboro, DE, Woodbridge High School, Bridgeville, DE, and Seaford High School, Seaford, DE. He coached basketball, football, track, and softball. During his summers, he ran the community swimming pool where he taught numerous youth in the community to swim and coached them on the swim team.

He was a member of the Lions Club and Past Master of Hiram Masonic Lodge 21 in Seaford, DE.

Ted was a member of Ocean Drive Presbyterian Church where he served as a deacon and elder. He also served on the property committee and assisted with burials in the memorial garden. He loved his church family and he enjoyed attending the Fellowship Sunday School Class.

Ted’s joy was being with his family and friends. He also loved the out-of-doors, going to the beach, and traveling.

Ted is survived by his wife and college sweetheart, Beverly Jean Shepherd, two sons, Dustin L. Shepherd of North Myrtle Beach, J. Grant Shepherd of Hudson, OH (wife) Colleen McCarthy Shepherd, grandson, Mason Shepherd, granddaughter, Riley Shepherd, sisters, Mary Sue Harris of Wake Forest, NC, and Peggy Leonard, Little River, SC, and numerous nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his brother James N. Shepherd.

Services will be held at 2:00 pm on September 5, 2025, at Ocean Drive Presbyterian Church, 410 6th Avenue S., North Myrtle Beach, SC. There will be a reception at the church following the service. Interment will be in the ODPC Church Columbarium.