Alwilda Gilbreath Shepherd, 88, of Rocky Face, Georgia, died on Monday, December 5, 2016.
She was born in Dalton, GA on Feb. 12, 1928 to the late Asa and Pearl Parker Gilbreath; and was also preceded in death by her sister Valgreta Gilbreath Burgess; her son-in-law Tommy McTee; and her great-grandson Joshua Thomas Nix.
Alwilda was a member of Central Church of Christ and was a graduate of Dalton High School where she was in the chorus. She was a graduate of Snead Junior College in Boaz, AL and David Lipscomb College in Nashville, TN. She graduated from West Georgia College with a Master’s in Education. Alwilda was a teacher in Whitfield and Murray Counties.
She is survived by her husband of 64 years James (J.T.) Shepherd of Rocky Face; daughters and son-in-law, Jan McTee of Rocky Face and Judy and Tommy Hoffpauir of Ooltewah, TN; son and daughter-in-law, Jeff and Janet Shepherd of Dalton; grandchildren, Heath (Kate) Perkins of Jacksonville, FL, Justin (Rebecca) Perkins of Rome, GA, Bethany (Andy) Nix of Gainesville, GA, Eli (Betsy) McTee of Spring Hill, TN, Sophia and Parker Shepherd of Dalton, GA, Tad (Kathleen) Hoffpauir of Spring Hill, TN, and Abbi Hoffpauir of Austin, TX; great-grandchildren, Carter and Hannah Perkins of Jacksonville, FL, Ellie and Heidi Perkins of Rome, GA, Camille and Andrew Nix of Gainesville, GA, Lennox and Holt McTee of Spring Hill, TN, and Adair and Emery Hoffpauir of Spring Hill, TN; nieces, nephews, and cousins.
Funeral services will be at 2 p.m. on Wednesday in the Chapel of Love Funeral Home with Ross Jordan officiating. Burial will be in Whitfield Memorial Gardens.
Visitation will be prior to the service on Wednesday from 12-2 p.m.
The Shepherd family would like to thank her special caregiver Brenda Van Wert and her nurses Denise Harrison, Joanna Davenport and Karen Bryan from Heart Lite Hospice. They would also like to thank the caregivers and staff from Dalton Place for their love and care.
In lieu of flowers the Shepherd family asks that memorials be made to Mt. Dora Children’s Home (301 W. 13th Avenue, Mt. Dora, FL 32757-9908), Central Church of Christ (P.O. Box 1201, Dalton, GA 30722-1201) Heart Lite Hospice (Checks made out to Hospice Promise Foundation, 1011 Abutment Road, Suite 108, Dalton, GA 30721), or a charity of your choice.
Words of comfort may be sent to the family at www.lovefuneralhomega.com.
Love Funeral Home, 1402 N. Thornton Ave. Dalton is in charge of arrangements.