Robert Owen Shephard Jr.
Robert Owen “Bobby” Shephard Jr., of Atlanta, son of Robert O. Shephard (BSCE 35), passed away Sept. 13 after a 20-year battle with a brain tumor. He was 70.
Born in Meridian, Shephard attended schools in Meridian, New Albany, Greenwood and Grenada before graduating from Druid Hills High School in Atlanta in 1962. In 1966, he received his bachelor’s degree in sociology from the University of Mississippi.
Shephard received his teaching certificate from Georgia State University, earned a master’s degree in guidance and counseling and an education specialist in administration and supervision from the University of West Georgia.
During Shephard’s distinguished career in education, he was a junior high teacher, senior high vocational coordinator, junior high counselor, elementary assistant principal, elementary principal, middle school principal and college level distance learning facilitator. As a professional educator, Shephard was an active member of Phi Delta Theta, a national educational fraternity and the Professional Association of Georgia Educators.
Shephard is survived by his wife, Connie Shephard, of Atlanta; her two children, Jennifer Goss (Greg), of Sharpsburg, Ga., and Kristin Daehler (Derrick), of Newnan, Ga.; seven grandchildren; his sister, Camille Yahm (Stuart), of Carrollton, Ga.; nieces, Christel Funk, of Navarre, Fla., Lisa Nied (Larry), of Doraville, Ga., Melanie Funk, of Decatur, Ga. and Wendi Funk, of Athens, Ga.; five grandnieces and a grandnephew. His father, Robert Owen Shepard, and mother, Onita Aldridge Shephard, preceded him in death.
In 2012, Camille Yahm established a Robert O. Shephard Levee Research Fund to honor their father and to stimulate the levee research program at Ole Miss. The family request that the bequests be given to the Robert O. Shephard Levee Research Fund. Donations may be sent to the University of Mississippi Foundation, P.O. Box 249, University, MS 38677-0249.