E. E. "Bill" Sheppard

Bill Sheppard
Cooksville, MS

Mr. Bill Sheppard, 93, of Cooksville, MS passed away Thursday, January 29, 2015 at the Mississippi State Veteran’s Home in Kosciusko, MS. A funeral service will be held at 2:00 P.M. Saturday, January 31, 2015 at Cockrell Funeral Home in Macon, MS. Bro. Jackie Strebeck and Bro. Wayne Hill will officiate the services. Interment will follow in Cooksville Cemetery. Visitation will be held at the funeral home from 12-2 p.m. Saturday. Memorials may be made to St. Jude Childrens Hospital, 1 St Jude’s Place, Memphis TN 38105-1942. Cockrell Funeral Home of Macon (www.cockrellfuneralhome.com) is entrusted with the service arrangements.

Bill Sheppard was born in Scooba, MS to the late Jones Everette and Arie Lena Edwards Sheppard. He graduated from Scooba High School and then began working in construction with M.T. Reed Construction Co. He entered the U.S. Army in November of 1942 and served three years in the Construction Engineers as a construction foreman during the war and then he re-enlisted and served three years of active service after the war. Mr. Bill was a qualified sharpshooter with the M-1 rifle. He was involved in the invasion of Europe during World War II and served in the Cherbourg area of France. Later, he was in one of General George Patton’s divisions that spear-headed the push into Germany. During this time he was active in many of the battles that took place in the Rhineland, Ardennes and other areas. Mr. Bill recalled that General Patton once rode on the hood of his truck during that time. After his term of active service with the military, he returned to Mississippi and worked for the Tennessee Valley Authority for several months before starting to work for the Noxubee County Supervisors in District 2. He retired from the county after forty-eight years of service. Mr. Bill was a member of the Providence Baptist Church. He enjoyed coon-hunting and fishing and was always glad to see and visit with his family, friends, and neighbors.

Mr. Bill is survived by his wife: Jeanette Sheppard of Philadelphia, MS; one daughter: Faye Watson of Vidor, TX; two sons: Joe Sheppard of Columbus, MS and Edward E Sheppard Jr. He is also survived by one step-daughter: Phebie Hunter and one step-son: Grady Scarbrough, both of Philadelphia, MS as well as by 4 grandchildren, 3 step-grandchildren, 6 great-grandchildren and 5 step-great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his first wife: Eva Sheppard and by three sisters: Inez Sheppard, Lois Cullum and Mary Alice Ballard.