Jewell Mae Shepherd went to her eternal home on Sunday, May 17, 2026, at 1:00 AM. Born on December 24, 1927, in Tomah Wisconsin weighing only
1 3/4 lbs. at birth, she lived to the age of 98 years. Jewell was a twin, but unfortunately her twin sister died within a few days of birth.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Charles “Shep” Shepherd, infant daughter Sherrill, and granddaughter, Kristi Garrard, as well as parents, Clifford Belcher and Mildred Winters, siblings, Garland Belcher, Janiece Gnewikow, Wanda Diven, twin sister, Joyce , and step brother Butch Belcher.
Jewell grew up in Tomah, Wisconsin. There was an Army base nearby and while attending the wedding of a friend, she met Charles “Shep” Shepherd. A spark started that grew into 62 years of marriage. They had three daughters, one of which died as an infant while they were stationed in California. Devastated by their loss, they decided to get out of the Army and go to Shep’s home in Memphis.
Jewell was a homemaker and Shep worked in construction. After Shep’s retirement, they moved to Crump to be near his hobbies- hunting and fishing. However, life and plans changed when Shep accepted the Lord as his Savior and Jewell rededicated her life. They took on a more important mission, ministering to the community and serving the Lord at Crump Baptist Church and Hopewell Baptist Church, where Shep became a deacon. Jewell was his constant support and was so happy to be back in church.
Jewell was a woman of strong faith in the Lord. She loved to laugh and make others laugh. She always had something funny or even silly to say, but it was sure better to look on the bright side than to complain. She certainly left her family with a lot of funny stories and memories to look back on. Her family says any laughing or giggling fits were always instigated by Jewell.
Even with Alzheimer’s, her sense of humor would frequently resurface as she would say just one or two words and laugh. The family knew the story she was trying to tell and it gave them a lift to hear that familiar laugh. Jewell will certainly be missed. After Shep’s death, she moved back to the Memphis area to live with her daughters.
She is survived by her daughters, Linda Garrard and Sharon Smith, sons in law, Robert Garrard and Tim Smith, grandsons, Michael and CJ Garrard, Justin, Brandon, and Jared Smith, 6 great grandchildren, 5 great great grandchildren, and step brother, Mark Belcher, and nieces and nephews too many to count.
