Mary Francis Sheppard
1934 - 2026
Share Mary Francis Sheppard's obituary with others.
Invite friends and family to read the obituary and add memories.
Stay updated
We'll notify you when service details or new memories are added.
You're now following this obituary
We'll email you when there are updates.
Please select what you would like included for printing:
Mary Francis Sheppard was born on November 29, 1934, in Linden, Texas. Mary peacefully passed away at home on March 13, 2026.
Mary was a loving, kind, generous, and compassionate woman whose life was rooted in faith, service, and love for others. From an early age, she learned the importance of having God in her life and showing compassion to those in need. Her mother, a beloved Sunday school teacher, shared her faith not only in word but by example. As a young girl, Mary often accompanied her mother as she ministered to and helped those less fortunate in their community. These early experiences helped shape Mary's lifelong calling to uplift, encourage, and serve others.
Mary was an exceptional student. She skipped several grades in elementary school and graduated from Fairview Senior High School in Linden, Texas, at just 16 years old as valedictorian of her class. During her high school years, she had the opportunity to travel across the state of Texas with a singing trio. She also enjoyed playing basketball, softball, and running track.
After high school, Mary attended Prairie View A&M University, where she earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Secondary Education and Music Education.
Mary dedicated her professional life to helping others, educating young people, and strengthening communities. Her first job after college was as a coordinator at a Community Center in San Diego, California, where she began what would become a lifetime of service-focused work. Shortly after, she taught fourth grade in Crenshaw, Mississippi, for one year. She then returned to Texas after accepting an offer to teach public school music in four Cass County schools, where she served for several years, nurturing students through education and music.
Mary was a faithful member of Salem Baptist Church in Linden, Texas, where she played piano for the choir. She loved the Lord deeply and always sought ways to serve Him through her gifts and her presence.
In 1956, Mary married her high school sweetheart, Buford Sheppard, and moved to Minnesota. From this union, they were blessed with five children, two daughters and three sons. Mary was a devoted wife and mother who loved caring for her family and always put them first. She was the heart of her home. Her love, wisdom, strength, and steady presence held her family together and blessed generations.
After dedicating herself to raising her children, Mary returned to the workforce in Minnesota. Her work there continued to reflect her compassionate spirit and her deep commitment to serving others. She worked for Ramsey County Welfare as a Personal Care Assistant, helping support individuals with care and dignity. She also worked with children at the Jewish Community Center, where her nurturing nature and love for young people were evident. Later, she returned to teaching and taught sixth grade at three elementary schools in the Twin Cities, continuing to pour into the lives of children through education.
In the 1970s, Mary served as one of the Minority Coordinators at Macalester College under the EEO (Expanded Educational Opportunities) Program for 12 years. In this role, she helped create opportunities for students, offered guidance and encouragement, and worked to open doors for those who needed support, access, and advocacy.
Mary retired in 2009 after 16 years of dedicated service as an Outreach Coordinator at Tubman's Minneapolis North Point location. This work was especially meaningful and reflected the very heart of who she was. Through this program, she helped countless women impacted by domestic abuse. She provided counseling, led women's support groups, and worked closely with community organizations to connect clients with critical resources and services. Mary's work was more than a job. It was a ministry of compassion, restoration, and hope. She had a special ability to meet people where they were, speak life into their circumstances, and help them find strength in difficult times. Her life's work consistently reflected her desire to serve people in need and make a lasting difference in the lives of others.
In November 2009, Mary joined Fellowship Missionary Baptist church. She was a member of the Prison Ministry . She loved sending cards to uplift and encourage inmates. She also enjoyed attending events sponsored by the Women Ministry.
Outside of her professional life, Mary deeply loved her family and friends. She enjoyed preparing special meals, playing cards, listening to music, attending plays, watching basketball and football, laughing, and having meaningful conversations. She also had a special gift for sending cards. Somehow, she always knew just the right card to send at just the right time. Each one was made even more special by the stickers she placed on the front, a loving touch that let you know it was from her.
Mary's faith and relationship with God remained the center of her life. She prayed for many and encouraged her family and friends to seek God for themselves. She did not tolerate foolishness or condone wrongdoing, but she always responded with love, hope, compassion, and grace. She was honest and strong, yet tenderhearted and full of mercy.
Mary was preceded in death by her father, Albert Love; mother, Murry Lee Love; sons, Victor Andre Sheppard and Von Eric Sheppard; and granddaughter, Jasmine Rae Murphy.
She leaves to cherish her memory and mourn her passing: daughter, Gayle Rice; son, Dwayne Sheppard (Mary); daughter, Angela Sheppard; daughter-in-Laws, Lisa Sheppard (late Von), Beverly Sheppard (Late Victor); ex-daughter-in-Law, Chrystal Sheppard; grandchildren, Shima Moolenaar, James Sheppard, Shawna Sheppard-Grubs (Jon), Michael Sheppard, Eric Sheppard (Chelsea), Brionna Sheppard, Jordan Hollie, Andres Sheppard and a host of great-grandchildren, nieces, nephews, cousins, and dear friends.
Mary Francis Sheppard was loved by many and will be greatly missed. Her legacy of faith, service, compassion, strength, and love will continue to live on in all who were blessed to know her. She was a shining light, a source of wisdom and comfort, and the foundation of her family. Her life was a beautiful testimony of what it means to serve God by serving others.
Funeral Service
Friday, March 27, 2026
FELLOWSHIP MISSIONARY BAPTIST CHURCH
3355 N. 4th Street, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55412
Visitation: 10:00 AM
Service: 11:00 AM
Interment: Elmhurst Cemetery
Mary was a loving, kind, generous, and compassionate woman whose life was rooted in faith, service, and love for others. From an early age, she learned the importance of having God in her life and showing compassion to those in need. Her mother, a beloved Sunday school teacher, shared her faith not only in word but by example. As a young girl, Mary often accompanied her mother as she ministered to and helped those less fortunate in their community. These early experiences helped shape Mary's lifelong calling to uplift, encourage, and serve others.
Mary was an exceptional student. She skipped several grades in elementary school and graduated from Fairview Senior High School in Linden, Texas, at just 16 years old as valedictorian of her class. During her high school years, she had the opportunity to travel across the state of Texas with a singing trio. She also enjoyed playing basketball, softball, and running track.
After high school, Mary attended Prairie View A&M University, where she earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Secondary Education and Music Education.
Mary dedicated her professional life to helping others, educating young people, and strengthening communities. Her first job after college was as a coordinator at a Community Center in San Diego, California, where she began what would become a lifetime of service-focused work. Shortly after, she taught fourth grade in Crenshaw, Mississippi, for one year. She then returned to Texas after accepting an offer to teach public school music in four Cass County schools, where she served for several years, nurturing students through education and music.
Mary was a faithful member of Salem Baptist Church in Linden, Texas, where she played piano for the choir. She loved the Lord deeply and always sought ways to serve Him through her gifts and her presence.
In 1956, Mary married her high school sweetheart, Buford Sheppard, and moved to Minnesota. From this union, they were blessed with five children, two daughters and three sons. Mary was a devoted wife and mother who loved caring for her family and always put them first. She was the heart of her home. Her love, wisdom, strength, and steady presence held her family together and blessed generations.
After dedicating herself to raising her children, Mary returned to the workforce in Minnesota. Her work there continued to reflect her compassionate spirit and her deep commitment to serving others. She worked for Ramsey County Welfare as a Personal Care Assistant, helping support individuals with care and dignity. She also worked with children at the Jewish Community Center, where her nurturing nature and love for young people were evident. Later, she returned to teaching and taught sixth grade at three elementary schools in the Twin Cities, continuing to pour into the lives of children through education.
In the 1970s, Mary served as one of the Minority Coordinators at Macalester College under the EEO (Expanded Educational Opportunities) Program for 12 years. In this role, she helped create opportunities for students, offered guidance and encouragement, and worked to open doors for those who needed support, access, and advocacy.
Mary retired in 2009 after 16 years of dedicated service as an Outreach Coordinator at Tubman's Minneapolis North Point location. This work was especially meaningful and reflected the very heart of who she was. Through this program, she helped countless women impacted by domestic abuse. She provided counseling, led women's support groups, and worked closely with community organizations to connect clients with critical resources and services. Mary's work was more than a job. It was a ministry of compassion, restoration, and hope. She had a special ability to meet people where they were, speak life into their circumstances, and help them find strength in difficult times. Her life's work consistently reflected her desire to serve people in need and make a lasting difference in the lives of others.
In November 2009, Mary joined Fellowship Missionary Baptist church. She was a member of the Prison Ministry . She loved sending cards to uplift and encourage inmates. She also enjoyed attending events sponsored by the Women Ministry.
Outside of her professional life, Mary deeply loved her family and friends. She enjoyed preparing special meals, playing cards, listening to music, attending plays, watching basketball and football, laughing, and having meaningful conversations. She also had a special gift for sending cards. Somehow, she always knew just the right card to send at just the right time. Each one was made even more special by the stickers she placed on the front, a loving touch that let you know it was from her.
Mary's faith and relationship with God remained the center of her life. She prayed for many and encouraged her family and friends to seek God for themselves. She did not tolerate foolishness or condone wrongdoing, but she always responded with love, hope, compassion, and grace. She was honest and strong, yet tenderhearted and full of mercy.
Mary was preceded in death by her father, Albert Love; mother, Murry Lee Love; sons, Victor Andre Sheppard and Von Eric Sheppard; and granddaughter, Jasmine Rae Murphy.
She leaves to cherish her memory and mourn her passing: daughter, Gayle Rice; son, Dwayne Sheppard (Mary); daughter, Angela Sheppard; daughter-in-Laws, Lisa Sheppard (late Von), Beverly Sheppard (Late Victor); ex-daughter-in-Law, Chrystal Sheppard; grandchildren, Shima Moolenaar, James Sheppard, Shawna Sheppard-Grubs (Jon), Michael Sheppard, Eric Sheppard (Chelsea), Brionna Sheppard, Jordan Hollie, Andres Sheppard and a host of great-grandchildren, nieces, nephews, cousins, and dear friends.
Mary Francis Sheppard was loved by many and will be greatly missed. Her legacy of faith, service, compassion, strength, and love will continue to live on in all who were blessed to know her. She was a shining light, a source of wisdom and comfort, and the foundation of her family. Her life was a beautiful testimony of what it means to serve God by serving others.
Funeral Service
Friday, March 27, 2026
FELLOWSHIP MISSIONARY BAPTIST CHURCH
3355 N. 4th Street, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55412
Visitation: 10:00 AM
Service: 11:00 AM
Interment: Elmhurst Cemetery
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Mary Francis Sheppard, please visit our flower store.
Mary Francis Sheppard's Guestbook
Visits: 34
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the
Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
Service map data © OpenStreetMap contributors