Bernice Maxine Sheppard

Georgetown, Ill. - Bernice Maxine Sheppard, 87, of Georgetown, passed away at 6:45 a.m. CDT Sunday, May 6, 2012 at Pleasant Meadows Christian Village in Chrisman, Illinois. She was born April 26, 1925 in Georgetown, Illinois, she was the daughter of the late Marie Barkman Pribble and Milford R. Pribble. She married James Kenneth "Ken" Sheppard, Sr. at the First Church of Christ in Georgetown on March 17, 1946. He preceded her in death on December 16, 1994. Survivors included her two sons, James K. (Rebecca) Sheppard, Jr. of Danville, Illinois and Thomas A. (Amy) Sheppard of Cayuga, Indiana; three grandchildren, Galya Marie Sheppard, Andrew Sheppard and Kate Sheppard; two great grandchildren, Jailyn and Jailyah Bankhead; one sister, Loretta (Jim) Henderson of Ridge Farm, Illinois; one brother, Walt (Carolyn) Pribble of Broadlands, Illinois and her uncle, Ralph (Jane) Barkman of Zeeland, Michigan. Maxine was preceded in death by one brother, Harold Pribble. Maxine was a 1943 graduate of Georgetown High School. She was formerly employed at Chicago Molded Products in Georgetown, retiring in 1987. Maxine was a member of the First Church of Christ in Georgetown, where she taught Sunday School and led children's worship for 39 years. She was recognized as Mother of the Year by her church in 1956. Bernice was also a former member of the Eastern Star and White Shrine of Jerusalem. Fifty-Two Sundays a year, times 39 --- That's over 2000 Sunday School lessons. Her sons agree that the best life lessons were taught in conversations under the shade tree in their backyard, snapping green beans or pitting cherries. After retiring, Maxine and Ken donated their time as Red Cross Volunteers at the former St. Elizabeth Hospital, Reading Grandparents at Pinecrest School in Georgetown and served on the Georgetown Christmas Basket committee. Maxine enjoyed family time, cooking, Bible study, gardening canning, snicker bars and doing for others and putting others first. Maxine lived life in accordance with the words of one of her favorite hymns --- An Evening Prayer: "If I have wounded any soul today, If I have caused one foot to go astray, If I have walked in my own willful way, Dear Lord, Forgive." Funeral Services: 11 a.m. CDT Thursday, May 10, 2012 at the First Church of Christ in Georgetown, Illinois; Officiating: Dr. Gary Snowden and Steve Rutter; Burial: Pleasant Mound Cemetery in rural Georgetown, Illinois; Visitation: 4 to 7 p.m. CDT Wednesday, May 9, 2012 at the First Church of Christ in Georgetown, Illinois and one hour prior to services on Thursday. The family request that contributions be made to the Donors' favorite charity. DeVerter Funeral Home in Cayuga, Indiana in charge of arrangements. Condolences: www.deverterfuneralhome.com.