Obituaries

Kimberly Camille Shepherd

Photo of Kimberly Camille Shepherd
"In the end, it's not the years in your life that count. It's the life in your years." Many have been credited with uttering those profound words. Kimberly Camille Byrd Shepherd personified them. Kimberly, of Prairie Grove, Arkansas, died Jan. 2 at age 56 following a long battle with brain cancer. She had an unmatched appetite for living life at full throttle. Imagine the sun, and you get an idea how big her heart was and how brightly she shone. She was a loving and nurturing mother, wife and grandmother and had unconditional love for her siblings and parents. Her kind and charitable nature was such that she would give anyone the proverbial shirt off her back, and provide an entire wardrobe if needed. She was angelic, caring, gentle and loving, but strong-willed, a "spitfire" if she needed to be, like a mother bear with cub – very protective of family. Kimberly could be tough when necessary, but was a Mother Theresa at heart. Quite simply, Kimberly was one of God's most cherished children and one of the world's most adored, loving and caring people. Kimberly was majorette at MacArthur Junior High School in Jonesboro, Arkansas, and played clarinet in the band. She received the John Philip Sousa Award, the highest award given. She was an Arkansas State University graduate, and taught at two Catholic grade schools, Blessed Sacrament in Jonesboro and St. Joseph in Fayetteville. She worked for the Fayetteville Police Department. She was active in the community, and always volunteered to help when needed. Kimberly was born Aug. 8, 1960, in Jonesboro, Arkansas, and lived for the past 17 years In Prairie Grove. She is survived by her husband, Peter, of Prairie Grove; two daughters, Valarie Shepherd and Natalie Dill (Evan), both of Fayetteville; a son, Philip, of Fayetteville; a stepson, Alex, of Boone, North Carolina; a grandson, Kellan Dill; her mother, Frances Byrd, of Jonesboro, Arkansas; her brother, Warren (Sammye), of Hanover, Maryland, and numerous nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her father, William Warren Byrd; and two sisters, Michele Byrd Hegwood and Gloria Byrd. Her signature gift of joy, shown through her constant smiling, laughter, and joking around, will be forever remembered. She was a wonderful person who showed love to everyone she came in contact with. She was caring and beautiful inside and out. She loved life, her family and her friends. She will be greatly missed by those she loved and those who loved her. A celebration of life memorial service will be held from 11 a.m. – 1 p.m. on Saturday, January 7, 2017, at Moore's Chapel Funeral Home in Fayetteville. To sign the online guest book, visit www.mooresfuneralchapel.com.

Published January 5, 2017

Upcoming Events