Herbert C Sheppard

Celebration of life: 11 a.m. Saturday, Bethlehem Baptist Church, 1188 West Broad St., the Rev. Michael A. Evans, pastor, officiating. Burial: Mansfield Community Cemetery. Friends of Mr. Sheppard may visit him as he lies in slumber at Gregory W. Spencer Funeral Directors from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Friday and at the church he loved so well from 5 to 9 p.m. with a period of reflection 7 to 9 p.m. All verbal expression of sympathy are asked to please be extended at this time.

Deacon Sheppard served in many capacities at the Bethlehem Church. He was superintendent of Sunday school and along with working faithfully in his church, he was president of the Elm Grove District Association Brotherhood, Fort Worth Area City Wide Brotherhood, devotional leader for the Missionary Baptist General Convention of Texas and a featured speaker in the National Baptist Convention of America Inc. Brother Sheppard can identify with the words of the Apostle Paul, "The time of my departure is at hand I have fought a good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith."

Deacon Sheppard's voice may be silent on this side with the singing of "Jesus keep me near the cross" but on the other side he will awaken by Gabriel's trumpet singing, "My soul looked back and wonder how I got over."

Survivors: His loving wife, Karon Crisp Sheppard; mother, Lillie Lawson-Smith; daughter, Pam Shepard (Willie); brothers, Terry, Don (Dora), Benjamin (Janet), Wardy, and Milton Sheppard (Jackie); four grandchildren; 20 great-grandchildren; aunt, Selma Bennett; uncles, F.M. Lawson (Essie), Willie Lawson (Mary); sister-in-law, Sherron Crisp; Pastor Evans and wife and the entire Bethlehem Baptist Church family; and other relatives and friends.

Gregory W. Spencer Funeral Directors

4000 Miller Ave., 817-531-8666

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