John Marion Sheperd departed this life Tuesday evening, March 7, 2017. Johnny, as he was affectionately called, was born to Wilhemina Jager Sheperd and John H. Sheperd on February 9, 1954, in Bronx, New York. John's parents soon moved back to South Carolina where he was raised in the home with his family including his grandparents, Fred and Susan Jager.

With the exception of a couple of years spent in Athens and Monroe, Georgia, Johnny grew up in Pineville where he attended elementary (J.K. Gourdine Elementary) and high school (Central now Cross High) in Berkeley County. He graduated from Voorhees College in Denmark, SC with a B.A. Degree in Social Studies. John worked for the Department of Corrections for several years and spent the last twenty-plus years working for Sears in Columbia, SC.

John was predeceased by his father John Henry Sheperd.

In addition to his mother, Wilhelmina Sheperd Moore, John is survived by his siblings, Michelle (James) Meekins, Greenville, SC and David Kenneth (Tamica) Moore, Atlanta, GA; one nephew, Kendrick J. (Nikki) Meekins, Simpsonville, SC; two nieces, Brittny Meekins (Paul) Ervin, Fort Mill, SC and Rayeah Moore, Atlanta, GA; two great nephews, Nicholas Meekins and  P.J. Ervin; and one great niece, Maya Ervin.  John is also survived by two aunts, Elizabeth Wigfall and Leola Spencer; several cousins including Denise (Smitty) Smith and Carl Jager, who were more like a sister and brother to him, Gregory Wigfall, Louis Jager, Paulette Sheperd, Herbert Sheperd, and many other relatives, friends, and co-workers.

John was truly one of a kind! Rambunctious as a child, his formative years and young adult life were never dull. He liked a good time. Despite some challenges as an adult, he was able to live a productive life. Keeping in touch with family was important to John, and he called those he loved most on a regular basis, "just to see how you doing", as he would say. He called his mother daily to check on her.  A beloved son, brother, uncle, friend, and coworker, John will be missed more than words can express.