Mary "Fay" (Lewis) Sheppard

Mary Fay Sheppard was born January 23, 1940 in Laurinburg, North Carolina, daughter of the late Clyde Lacy Lewis and Mary Louise Lewis. She was a graduate in 1958 from Laurel Hill School. During her time at Laurel Hill School she played basketball and won first runner up in the Homecoming Contest. Fay's classmates gave her the nickname “dimples” in school because of her contagious smile which showed her dimples. After high school she married and had three children that she adored. Starting in 1964 she became the Vice President of Sheppard's Upholstery worked there for 39 years. She loved her job serving the community and loved her customers. During that time, she assisted in teaching upholstery classes two nights a week at Richmond Community College. Fay worked in children's church with 4 to 8 year old girls teaching Daisy's and Prims Groups. Her love to sew led her to make all the girls dresses and sashes to match.  When the girls earned their badges, she made sure to sew each one on for them.

Sarah Polston was her best friend and their nickname for each other was “Sugar Britches”. They spent many days talking, laughing, and sometimes crying together. They had great memories on beach trips, shopping sprees, lunch dates, and porch sitting. She loved her like a sister.

Fay loved the Lord. Her faith and belief in him were powerful. She read healing scripture and claimed each scripture over her body to heal her from several diagnoses of cancer. She was a two-time survivor of Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma cancer, a melanoma, and several skin cancers. Mrs. Sheppard was a patient at Scotia Village in Laurinburg, NC.

She was a member of the Red Hats, Sassy Lassies, Young At Hearts, and Growing Friendship Club. Fay loved to travel, she toured 28 states and Canada. She loved her time in Southport at her beach home hosting family and friends. Fay loved working in the yard, a good card game of Phase Ten, watching Wheel of Fortune, and reading books. She was a giver and gave each month to Boys and Girls Home of NC, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Veterans of Foreign Wars Organization, and The Wounded Warriors Project. Most of all she loved her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. She wanted to do nothing in her spare time but be with them. She is very proud of all her grandchildren and their accomplishments.

In addition to her parents, she is preceded in death by her son, Phillip “Phil” Gregory Sheppard, Jr, and sister Lula “Koot” Lewis NeSmith (Al), Betty Lewis Dryden (Owen), Sherry Lewis Hales (William), William “Bill” Lewis (Pat), and Glenda Lewis Hall (Richard “Dickie”).Fay leaves behind her daughter, Kimberly F Sheppard of Laurinburg, NC, Jeffrey S Sheppard (Heather) of Waxsaw, NC, seven grandchildren, eight great-grandchildren, and many nieces and nephews along with a host of loving family and friends. 

Funeral services will be at Noon Monday, November 15, 2021 at New Hope Baptist Church, officiated by Pastor Michael Malpass. Entombment will follow in Laurinburg Memorial Park. The family will receive friends prior to the service Monday from 11:00 until Noon at the church.

Memorial gifts may be given to New Hope Baptist Church, 11480 Hasty Road, Laurinburg, NC 28352,  Scotland Regional Hospice, P.O. Box 1033, Laurinburg, NC 28353 or  Boys & Girls Home of Lake Waccamaw, 400 Fleming Dr., Lake Waccamaw, NC, 28450. 

Due to current COVID-19 restrictions, mandates require facial masks with social distancing for all services.

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