Juanita Elizabeth Mayes Sheppard

Juanita Elizabeth Mayes Sheppard, 96, of Houston, Texas, went home to be with our Heavenly Father on Wednesday, September 17, 2025. Juanita was the seventh child born August 18, 1929, in Double Bayou, Texas, to the late Earl Palmer Mayes and Elmira Jeanie Thomas Mayes.
She attended Double Bayou High School and Power Point High School in Kendleton, Texas for two years. She graduated from Central High School in Galveston, Texas in May of 1949. She went on to attend Texas Southern University in Houston, Texas, and Durham Business College.
She was married to the late August Griffin. Then she met and married the late Leonard Sheppard, Sr. She moved to Austin, Texas with her two sons, Leonard Jr, and David Sheppard. She and her family became members of University Hills Baptist Church, where they were very active. She became a member of the Pelatis Auxiliary of the Iota Phi Lambda Sorority and was very active until she moved back to Houston, Texas in 1986.
Juanita worked for years at Battelsteins Department store and was also a clerical office worker in the Maintenance Agreement Department at Sears and remained there until her retirement in 1994. After retirement she worked at Gulf Coast Regional Blood Center from 1994 until 2002.
For several years, she was a member of Westbury United Methodist Church in Houston, Texas. She served as a Sunday morning office volunteer and a Greeter. She became a member of Windsor Village United Methodist Church, Houston, Texas, where she served as a faithful member. Juanita loved volunteering, cooking, reading, and doing word search puzzles.
She is preceded in death by her parents; husbands, August Griffin, Leonard Sheppard, Sr., brothers, Hillary R. Mayes, Hiram E. Mayes, Earl H. Mayes, Oscar B. Mayes, Ishmael A. Mayes, and Robert C. Mayes; and sisters, Hazel I. Mayes Jason, Naomi W. Mayes Davison, and Oveta V. Mayes Ellis.
She is survived by her sons, Leonard Sheppard, Jr.; David Sheppard; daughter-in­law, Karen Sheppard; three grandchildren, Kameron Sheppard, Kourtland Sheppard, and Konnor, Sheppard; Goddaughter's, Pamela A. Mayes-Jones, Jordan Mayes, Camilyah Jones, and Debbie Griffin; and a host of nieces, nephews, friends, and relatives. Special thanks to the staff at North Houston Transitional Care for their care and support.