Lyda Jean Shepard

Tupelo- Lydia Jean Bennett Shepard, 96, passed away peacefully in her home in Portsmouth, Virginia on Thanksgiving Day, November 28, 2019, surrounded by the love of her family. She was born November 30, 1922 in Indianapolis, Indiana to Kelly and Clare Duncan Bennett and was a graduate of Broadripple High School. She was married for 46 years to Howard Roy Shepard, who passed away in November 1988. Jean and Howard had three children; Nancy Jean Ritter, Donna Sue Linville and Daniel Paul Shepard. Jean Shepard was completely devoted to her God, her family and her church. She had a special love for the ministry and all things related, it was her heart. She shared that passion with her family and everyone she encountered. She was a gentle, compassionate and loving wife, mother and grandmother.  She loved with all of her heart, mind and strength.  She taught by example and truly was the profile of a Proverbs 31 lady. She was deeply loved by her husband, children, grandchildren, family and friends. Jean and her oldest daughter, Nancy, attended nursing school at the hospital in Tupelo and graduated together as Licensed practical nurses (LPN). Jean worked in the pediatrics department at the hospital and then as a charge nurse at Cedar’s Health Center. She found her passion in nursing with the geriatric population. She loved her patients and they loved her. She was an avid voice in promoting care, with compassion and dignity, for the elderly. Jean was a longtime member of Cedar Grove United Pentecostal Church in Tupelo where she served as Ladies Auxiliary Director, a very beloved Sunday School teacher and choir member.  She always stood faithful in support and had a great love and respect for each pastor in her life.  After the death of her husband, she moved to Portsmouth where her daughter, Donna, and son-in-law, Gary Linville, were starting a home missions work with the United Pentecostal Church.  She joined in their passion and burden for the city of Portsmouth and worked in any capacity needed to help build the thriving, compassionate congregation of First Church of Portsmouth. She loved working at K-Mart the first years she lived in Portsmouth.  She then began to help with the restaurant her son, Danny, started there, "Mamma Jean’s", where a whole new group of people learned to love and adore her. She enjoyed writing letters and cards and used that as a ministry to touch others. She loved working in her flower beds and watching them grow. She LOVED chocolate, all chocolate and believed that nearly everything was better with extra sugar.  She loved to laugh and had a wonderful sense of humor up to the very last, yet she just as easily cried.  She had a very tender heart, yet had a strength and determination that was unsurpassed. She loved serving her church and passionately loved her family, unconditionally. She was a well-loved matriarch to her children, grandchildren, family, friends and church family. Jean Shepard leaves behind her daughter Donna Linville (Gary) and son Daniel Shepard (Reba) of Portsmouth; grandchildren, Leah Ritter Graham (Kenneth) of Tupelo, Amy Ritter Ballard (Jody) of Grenada, Renita Ritter Bailey (David) of Natchez, Caleb, Clara, Bethany, Charity, Joshua and Sarah Shepard of Portsmouth and Lisa Gonzales (Dennis) of Portsmouth; great-grandchildren, Kegan Graham, Alexi Ballard McGehee (Dustin), Quintin Ballard, Austin Ryan, Nicole Ryan, Hannah Ryan, Brianna Gonzales LeDoyen (Matthew), and Loren Gonzales; great-great-grandchildren, Hunter Ryan, Ryleigh Harper and Greyson LeDoyen; numerous nieces and nephews and their families; and a beloved church family. She was preceded in death by her parents, Kelly and Clara Bennett; husband, Howard; daughter Nancy Ritter; son-in-law, Bobby Ritter; and her siblings, Carl Bennett (Opal), James Bennet (JoAnn) and Dorothy Jenkins (George). Visitation will be from 5 p.m. until service time Tuesday, December 3, 2019 at Cedar Grove United Pentecostal Church. A service celebrating her life will be 7 p.m., Tuesday, December 3, 2019 at Cedar Grove United Pentecostal Church in Tupelo with her longtime family friend Rev. Stephen Drury, from St. Louis, Missouri officiating. Graveside services will be 11 a.m. December 4, 2019 in Lee Memorial Park. W.E. Pegues Funeral Directors is honored to be in charge of the arrangements. Pallbearers will be her grandsons and great-grandsons. Memorials may be made to First Church of Portsmouth, 912 Elmhurst Lane, Portsmouth, Virginia 23701. Expressions of sympathy may be left at www.peguesfuneralhome.com .