Mark Timothy Shepherd

With sadness yet hope, we announce Rev. Mark Timothy Shepherd (67) of Lexington, Kentucky, has gone to be with God. Mark was born in Cincinnati, Ohio, the fourth and youngest child of Rev. James and Rosalie DeYoung Shepherd.

When Mark was two, Methodist ministry took the Shepherd family to Frankfort to serve First Methodist Church. He attended Second Street School, Collins Lane Elementary, Elkhorn Junior High, and Franklin County High. He was active in church and loved all the associated activities and the lifelong Frankfort friends. During his high school years, Mark felt a call to ministry and attended Asbury University in Wilmore, Kentucky, following in the footsteps of his parents and siblings and graduating with a degree in speech and communication.

In 1981, he began seminary at Emory University’s Candler School of Theology in Atlanta. He left Candler with a master’s degree in theology and lifelong friends, skills, and a deep sense of commitment to a life in pastoral ministry, beginning in northern Kentucky at Southgate United Methodist Church. There, he served 9 years and also volunteered as a chaplain and EMT with the local fire department. He often reminisced about the time spent serving alongside those firefighters.

It was in Southgate in 1988—at the wedding of a close mutual friend, Betty Miller—that Mark met Sande Turner. In 1990, they were married. Susanna was born in 1991 and Zechariah in 1992. Later appointments took the family to Covington Trinity, Columbia, Jeffersontown, and Erlanger United Methodist churches. In 2017, Mark was diagnosed with late-stage pancreatic cancer and (miraculously) lived 8 years beyond all expectations.

With his cancer diagnosis, Mark’s full-time ministry was cut short, but he began to participate in ministries at Lexington’s Southern Hills United Methodist Church (SHUMC), where he and Sande attended. Occasionally, he preached and offered his popular “Sermon in a Sack” children’s sermons. He loved participating in those ministries, but his heart ached to return to full-time ministry. That, however, was not to be. He retired December 31, 2025, after 42 years of pastoral ministry in the United Methodist Church.

Mark and Sande are thankful for great friendships and a fulfilling life in ministry. On any given day, Mark could recount “a good church story” and was happy to entertain with his dry sense of humor. His best qualities were faithfulness to God, strength of character, devotion to his congregations, and being supportive and loving to his family and friends. He always enjoyed worshiping with the people he felt closest to.

Following a long line of missioners, Mark enjoyed local, regional, and international mission trips. He credited his family and friends with his early faith formation as well as his love of cooking and mission work. He caught the mission-work fire at an early age and most recently participated in the Backpack Ministry of SHUMC.

After the initial cancer diagnosis, Mark was treated for 8+ years by an exceptional oncologist, Dr. Olugbenga Olowokure, and the staff at University of Cincinnati Medical Center. “Dr. Benga” remained positive, encouraging, and realistic without dwelling on the discouraging statistics. Instead, he is a man of faith who believes God is in control and that anything is possible. His prayers with Mark were heartfelt and deeply appreciated. Our family owes Dr. Benga a debt of gratitude; he is loved and respected for his unwavering faith and remarkable dedication to his patients in an arduous profession.

Mark is survived by his wife Sande Turner Shepherd; daughter Susanna Shepherd Vance and son-in-law Garrett Vance of Georgetown, Kentucky; and son Zech Shepherd of Alexandria, Virginia. Mark’s siblings are Rev. Dr. Mary John Shepherd Dye of Statesville, North Carolina; Dr. Ruth Ann Shepherd of Midway, Kentucky; and Judge Phillip Shepherd (Audrey) of Frankfort, Kentucky.

One of Mark’s most loved scriptures teaches: “I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from His love. Death can’t, and life can’t. The angels won’t, and all the powers of hell itself cannot keep God’s love away. Our fears for today, our worries about tomorrow, or where we are—high above the sky, or in the deepest ocean—nothing will ever be able to separate us from the love of God” (Romans 8:38–39, The Living Bible).

A memorial service will be held Saturday, April 11, in Lexington’s Southern Hills United Methodist Church sanctuary at 1:00 p.m., with Reverend Dr. John Hatton officiating.

In lieu of flowers and to serve children in Fayette County schools, Mark requested that gifts be made to the Backpack Ministry of Southern Hills United Methodist Church (2356 Harrodsburg Road, Lexington, Kentucky 40503).