Mrs. Inez Shepard

In loving memory of Inez Shepard

Inez Shepard, a cherished member of the Mansfield community, gracefully departed this world on February 12, 2024, at the age of 90. Born on April 20, 1933, in Dublin, GA, Inez touched the lives of many through her incredible dedication and unwavering commitment to education and childcare.

After completing her education in the Dublin Georgia School System, Inez sought new horizons and relocated to Mansfield, Ohio. It was there that she began her career in the nursing field, but her true passion drew her towards nurturing and educating young minds. With boundless love for children, Inez took a leap of faith and founded the beloved Happy Time Childcare. Through her tireless efforts, she became a pillar of the community, providing a space of joy and learning for countless children.

It was clear from the start that Inez possessed a profound gift for teaching, and so she also established the Culiver Reading Center, a testament to her unwavering commitment to fostering literacy and empowering young minds. Her impact and influence extended far beyond the classroom walls, shaping the lives of generations to come.

Inez would often express her gratitude to her faith and spirituality, having been raised in the church from an early age in Dublin, Georgia. She found solace and strength as a devoted member of the Faith Temple Church of God in Christ, where her presence was treasured by the congregation.

Mrs. Inez Shepard was a pillar of the community. She received countless awards and served with many oranizations such as, United Way Board of Trustees, MHS Black Culture Club Hall of Fame, Community Action Program-Head Start, Mansfield City Council Program for Nurturing, Mid Ohio Educational Service “Raising NonViolent Children in a Violent World”, The Martin Luther King Jr. Award, and Black Women United.

Outside of her professional achievements, Inez found joy in the simple pleasures of life. She had a passion for pottery and ceramics, using her creative spirit to mold beauty from clay. Her green thumb was evident in her beloved garden, where she nurtured vibrant flowers and tended to thriving plants. Inez’s love for gospel music was unyielding, filling her heart with melodies that lifted her spirit and touched the souls of all who listened.

Inez will forever be remembered as a dedicated educator, a devoted mother, a loving wife, and a cherished sister and friend. Her memory will be carried on by her beloved husband of 70 years, Kenneth Wayne Shepard Sr; her twin daughters, Sheila (Bryon) Reed and Sharon Shepard-Wright; her sons, Kenneth Wayne (Patricia) Shepard Jr., Charles (Charlene) Shepard, Phillip (Sandra) Duty, and Garry (Lareta) Duty; sister, Mary (Nathaniel) Carter, 20 grandchildren, and a host of great grandchildren, great great grandchildren, and 1 great great great grandchild, adopted daughter, Lillian Culliver; God Children Robbie Whitfield, Bernice White, & Don (Fella) Williams Jr. and a host of nieces, nephews and cousin and friends.

She was preceded in death by her parents Dolphus Wright and Dora (Waters) Wright and her brothers Willie, Robert, Sylvester, Jimmy, and Ralph Wright and sisters, Leona Erwin-Coleman, Eldora Flucker and Rose Wright.

Visitation 10:00am and Home Going Service 11:00am Thursday , February 22, 2024, at at the Maddox Memorial COGIC, 1148 Walker Lake Rd. Inez will be laid to rest at Mansfield Memorial Park.

In this time of grief, let us remember Inez Shepard as an extraordinary woman: a beacon of light, a guiding force, and a source of inspiration. May her legacy of love, compassion, and dedication continue to shine brightly in the hearts of all whose lives she touched.