Whitesell-Somers Family Web Project - Person Sheet
Whitesell-Somers Family Web Project - Person Sheet
NameRev. Banks Deroy SHEPHERD 
470, Rev Banks Deroy Shepherd,470, Charlie Paul Shepherd-Information
470, Rev Banks Deroy Shepherd,470, Charlie Paul Shepherd-InformationBirthOct 28, 1928, Guilford County, North Carolina470, Rev Banks Deroy Shepherd
DeathSep 27, 2015, Thomasville, Davidson County, North Carolina470, Rev Banks Deroy Shepherd
BurialFirst Reformed UCC, 104 E. Center Street, Lexington, Davidson County, North Carolina470, Rev Banks Deroy Shepherd
FatherHoward Deroy SHEPHERD (1902-1980)
MotherCharlie Pearl SHARPE (1909-1993)
Spouses
Obituary Online notes for Rev. Banks Deroy SHEPHERD
Rev. Banks Deroy Shepherd,86, passed away peacefully Sunday, September 27, at Piedmont Crossing Health Care Unit.
Survived by his wife of 64 years, Eulene Shepherd Fisher; children David Shepherd (Barbara) of Vienna, VA; Howard Shepherd of Asheville; Robert S. Shepherd of Charlotte; Beth Shepherd Bliss of Brigantine, NJ (Michael); grandchildren Benjamin A. Shepherd, Julia K. Shepherd and Julian Deroyce Bliss. Also survived by sisters Frances Matkins of Springfield, VA and Betty Clary (Glenn) of Wendell; as well as a host of beloved nieces and nephews. Predeceased by brother Paul Shepherd, brother-in-law Harlin Matkins, and sister-in-law Hazel Epting.
Banks was born in Guilford County to Howard D. and Pearl Shepherd, and graduated from Nathanael Greene High School in 1946. He graduated from Catawba College in 1950 and Lancaster [PA] Theological Seminary in 1953 and earned the Master of Divinity degree in 1973. In the early days of the civil rights movement he did post-graduate work at the Human Relations Institute of Fisk University.
After his ordination by the Southern Synod of the Evangelical & Reformed Church, Banks enjoyed a long and rewarding career as a minister in the E&R and the United Church of Christ, serving pastorates in the Brookford Charge, Hickory, NC 1953-58, Mt. Pleasant Charge, Mt. Pleasant, NC 1958-63, New Gilead Charge, Concord, NC, 1963-66, Smyrna-Bethany Charge, Claremont, NC, 1966-78 and Bethany, Winston-Salem, NC 1978-1994. He was pastor of Visitation at Beck’s, Lexington, NC 1997-2004.
His keen interest in church history led him to author "New Gilead Church: A History of the German Reformed People on Coldwater" (1966), and to become involved in the Southern chapter of the Evangelical & Reformed Historical Society, including a term as president. He also served on the steering committee and was president of the Board for the Eastern Catawba Cooperative Christian Ministry.
Bank's penchant for service work led him to work as a chaplain for and member of the Lexington Downtown Lions Club, which conferred upon him life membership in 2003. He directed several camps at Johns River Valley Camp in Collettesville, and was a past secretary and president of the board of trustees for Blowing Rock Assembly Grounds/Conference Center.
An avid aficionado of folk arts, Banks had a talent for clock repair and for whittling figurines and toys, especially the gee-haw whimmydiddle. He also helped keep the traditions of story telling alive by performing "Grandfather Tales" and "Jack Tales" throughout Western NC. In 2015, Banks received accolades from the Southern Highland Craft Guild for his work in keeping folk arts alive by promoting the gee-haw whimmydiddle.
In retirement, Banks enjoyed preaching and travels with his wife Eulene, friends,and family.
Visitation on Sunday, October 4, from 2:00-3:30 in the parlor of First Reformed United Church of Christ in Lexington. Memorial service follows in the church sanctuary at 4:00. 470, Rev Banks Deroy Shepherd
Survived by his wife of 64 years, Eulene Shepherd Fisher; children David Shepherd (Barbara) of Vienna, VA; Howard Shepherd of Asheville; Robert S. Shepherd of Charlotte; Beth Shepherd Bliss of Brigantine, NJ (Michael); grandchildren Benjamin A. Shepherd, Julia K. Shepherd and Julian Deroyce Bliss. Also survived by sisters Frances Matkins of Springfield, VA and Betty Clary (Glenn) of Wendell; as well as a host of beloved nieces and nephews. Predeceased by brother Paul Shepherd, brother-in-law Harlin Matkins, and sister-in-law Hazel Epting.
Banks was born in Guilford County to Howard D. and Pearl Shepherd, and graduated from Nathanael Greene High School in 1946. He graduated from Catawba College in 1950 and Lancaster [PA] Theological Seminary in 1953 and earned the Master of Divinity degree in 1973. In the early days of the civil rights movement he did post-graduate work at the Human Relations Institute of Fisk University.
After his ordination by the Southern Synod of the Evangelical & Reformed Church, Banks enjoyed a long and rewarding career as a minister in the E&R and the United Church of Christ, serving pastorates in the Brookford Charge, Hickory, NC 1953-58, Mt. Pleasant Charge, Mt. Pleasant, NC 1958-63, New Gilead Charge, Concord, NC, 1963-66, Smyrna-Bethany Charge, Claremont, NC, 1966-78 and Bethany, Winston-Salem, NC 1978-1994. He was pastor of Visitation at Beck’s, Lexington, NC 1997-2004.
His keen interest in church history led him to author "New Gilead Church: A History of the German Reformed People on Coldwater" (1966), and to become involved in the Southern chapter of the Evangelical & Reformed Historical Society, including a term as president. He also served on the steering committee and was president of the Board for the Eastern Catawba Cooperative Christian Ministry.
Bank's penchant for service work led him to work as a chaplain for and member of the Lexington Downtown Lions Club, which conferred upon him life membership in 2003. He directed several camps at Johns River Valley Camp in Collettesville, and was a past secretary and president of the board of trustees for Blowing Rock Assembly Grounds/Conference Center.
An avid aficionado of folk arts, Banks had a talent for clock repair and for whittling figurines and toys, especially the gee-haw whimmydiddle. He also helped keep the traditions of story telling alive by performing "Grandfather Tales" and "Jack Tales" throughout Western NC. In 2015, Banks received accolades from the Southern Highland Craft Guild for his work in keeping folk arts alive by promoting the gee-haw whimmydiddle.
In retirement, Banks enjoyed preaching and travels with his wife Eulene, friends,and family.
Visitation on Sunday, October 4, from 2:00-3:30 in the parlor of First Reformed United Church of Christ in Lexington. Memorial service follows in the church sanctuary at 4:00. 470, Rev Banks Deroy Shepherd