Fox & Weeks is privileged to serve the family and loved ones of Edwin Collier Shepherd, 92, who died peacefully at home surrounded by his family on May 30. Born in 1921 in Charleston, West Virginia, he was the son of the late Tisdale Talmadge Shepherd and Katherine Evelyn Sauls Shepherd. His family moved to Savannah in 1927 where he attended public schools and graduated from Savannah High School. He received a B.S. in Chemistry from the University of Georgia, where he was a member and president of Sigma Alpha Epsilon, a member of the University of Georgia Male Glee Club and a member of Phi Kappa Phi Literary Society. During World War II, he volunteered for service in the US Army, completed infantry basic training at Fort Benning, GA, and was assigned to the 63rd infantry division. Following army discharge, he enrolled in the University of Georgia School of Medicine earning his MD in 1948. Internship, Pediatric Residency, and Specialty Education followed at Columbia Hospital of Richland County and at the Washington Childrens Hospital - The National Childrens Medical Center. In July 1952, Dr. Shepherd opened his office in Savannah for the practice of Pediatric medicine. This practice was interrupted during the late stages of the Korean crisis when he was called to active duty by the Georgia National Guard, where he served as medical officer for the 48th division artillery. Captain Shepherd was sent to the 5th General Hospital in Stuttgart Germany where he was chief of the pediatric care and consultation program for military dependents throughout the region. Upon returning to Savannah, Dr. Shepherd joined Dr. Carl Brennan and Dr. Milton Mazo in forming Pediatric Associates of Savannah, the first private pediatric group practice established in Savannah. Countless Savannahians will remember Dr. Shepherd affectionately as the singing doctor, who calmed their childhood fears with silly songs. During his professional career, Dr. Shepherd served as Chairman of the Pediatrics staff at each of the Savannah hospitals. He was a Fellow of the American Academy of Pediatrics, a Diplomat of the American Board of Pediatrics, Honorary President of the Georgia Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics, and a charter member of the Southern Perinatal Society. A member of the American and Southern Medical Associations, he was also a delegate to the Medical Association of Georgia and was twice Vice President and member of the Board of Trustees of the Georgia Medical Society. He was a founder and a member of the Board of the Savannah Association for Retarded Children, the pediatric consultant for the Chatham County Division for Crippled Children, a board member of the Chatham County Chapter of the National Foundation for Polio and Birth Defects, Medical Director for Bethesda Savannah Childrens Center, and on the Advisory Committee of the Savannah Speech and Hearing Center. Dr. Shepherd represented the Georgia Medical Society on the United Way Health Council, and was a member of the Board of Directors of the Medical College of Georgia Alumni Society. He was a member and Past President of the retired Physicians Committee of the Georgia Medical Society, and in 1996 received the Societys Dr. John B. Rabun Award for Outstanding Community Service over the Years. He was a member of the Board of Directors of the Backus Childrens Hospital at Memorial Health University Medical Center, its interim Medical Director, and the Childrens Hospital Liaison to the Foundation at Memorial. In 1994 he was active in the creation of the One Hundred, a volunteer organization designed to provide financial support to the Backus Childrens Hospital, advocacy for Savannahs children, and community education regarding their health care needs. In 1999, he and Mrs. Shepherd were greatly honored by The One Hundred when it established the Dr. Edwin and Elizabeth Shepherd Distinguished Lectureship Award. A parishioner of St. Johns Church in Savannah since 1952, he served on the vestry for over twenty years, was Senior Warden, and was elected Emeritus vestryman in 1994. He attended many Diocesan conventions, served on many committees, and was a Lay Deputy to the National Convention of the Episcopal Church three times and to the Episcopal Synod of America in 1989. Dr. Shepherd served on the advisory or executive boards of All Kids Count, the Coastal Empire Council, the Boy Scouts of America, the YMCA, and the Savannah Benevolent Association. He was Past President and several times a board member of the Rotary Club of Savannah, where he had been a member since 1953. He was on the Board of Trustees of the University of the South (Sewanee), and the Savannah Country Day School, and the Board of Directors of the Royce Learning Center. He was on the Advisory Board of the Make-A-Wish Foundation. Social organizations included the Cotillion Club, the Savannah Yacht Club, the Savannah Golf Club, the Landings Club and the Oglethorpe Club, where he was a member of the Board of Governors from 1988 – 1991. He was a charter member and past board member of the German Heritage Society of Savannah. He was also a member of the St. Andrews Society where he served as chaplain for a number of years, the Coastal Scottish Heritage Society, the Clan Donnachaidh Society of North America, Scottish Heritage USA, and a charter member of the Scottish American Military Society. Throughout his life, Dr. Shepherd was an avid sportsman, athlete, and fan. Skeet-shooting, hunting, fishing, and especially golf brought him great pleasure. He was a loyal Georgia Bulldogs fan, attending almost every home football game for over five decades, even past the age of 90. He was preceded in death by his beloved wife of over 52 years, Betty McCuen Shepherd; his only sister, Katherine Shepherd Wysong; and his oldest brother, Elton Wesley Shepherd. Surviving are his daughter, Janet Elizabeth Shepherd; son and daughter-in-law, Edwin C. Shepherd, Jr. (Sandy) and Melanie York Shepherd; brother and sister-in-law, Robert Sauls and Betty B. Shepherd; grandson, Edwin C. Shepherd, III; and many cherished cousins, nieces, nephews, and godchildren. The Shepherd family is profoundly thankful for the loving care so selflessly given by all employees and volunteers at Hospice Savannah. The funeral will be held at St. Johns Church in Savannah at 11 am on Monday. Officiating are the Rev. Gavin G. Dunbar, the Rev. Craig OBrien, and the Rev. Dr. Jeremy Bergstrom. The family will receive friends at a reception immediately following at the Green-Meldrim House. Interment will follow at Bonaventure Cemetery. Remembrances: St. Johns Church in Savannah, the Backus Childrens Hospital, or Hospice Savannah. Please click the link to send flowers and sign the online guest book.
Posted on: Sat, 31 May 2014 17:23:53 +0000
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