Helen Rabun Sheppard
Orange Park, FL – Helen Rabun Sheppard, 86, went home to be with her Savior on Saturday morning, November 3, 2018. Funeral services to celebrate her life will be held at 2:00 P.M. Wednesday afternoon, November 7, 2018 at Stapleton Baptist Church with the Reverends Don Black and Joshua Mosley officiating. Interment will follow in the church cemetery.
Born to the late Walker Smith O’Tyson and the late Wesley Rabun, Helen lived her earlier years in Augusta, then moved to Stapleton where she owned and operated several businesses, as well as sold life insurance. She loved older people so as owner and manager of Three Gables Personal Care Home, she bought and renovated an older home that housed many residents that she loved and cared for as if they were her own parents. She felt that ministering to the elderly was her calling and she took it very seriously. After selling Three Gables, she retired to Augusta, after which she moved to Orange Park and became a resident of Life Care Center of Orange Park. Helen loved her Lord and Savior and served Him as a former member of Stapleton Baptist Church and as a member of Woodlawn Baptist Church until her health declined. A gregarious person, Helen made friends wherever she went. Her other passion was caring for and loving her family as “Mama”, “Nana”, “G-nana”, and “Sister”. She often said that her greatest accomplishment in life was her children. She will be remembered for her hard-work ethic, loving spirit, generous nature, kindness and genuine love for others. She was a very special Southern lady and true woman of God.
Helen was also preceded in death by her husbands, James Banks, Leroy Sheppard and Bill Ivey; her sister, Joyce McCook; and her brother, Walker Rabun. She leaves behind five daughters, Paula Conner (Ted) of Martinez, Suzanne DePotter of Jacksonville FL, Terri McElroy (Bruce) of Orange Park FL, Beth Anderson (Todd) of St. Augustine FL, and Jamie Danese (Pat) of Jacksonville FL; three siblings, Laverne Mock, Jack O’Tyson and Joe O’Tyson; twelve grandchildren, Allison Hodges, Douglas Conner, Jennifer Banks, Angela Turner, Melissa McElroy, Brian McElroy, Nicholas McElroy, Sabrena Hunter, Jason Banks, Derek Thomas, Erin Danese, and Patrick Danese; thirteen great grandchildren; three great-great grandchildren; nieces, nephews and many friends.
The family will receive friends at Stapleton Baptist Church starting at 1:00 P.M. Wednesday afternoon, November 7, 2018.
Because Helen loved to give to missions, the family respectfully requests that in lieu of flowers memorial contributions be made to Stapleton Baptist Church, 360 Harvey Street, Stapleton, GA 30823, to be used in their mission programs.
Heartfelt thanks are extended to the staff at Life Care Center at Orange Park for the love and compassion with which they ministered to her needs for the past three years. Also, thanks goes to Community Hospice for their care.
Wednesday, November 7, 2018
1:00 - 2:00 pm (Eastern time)
Stapleton Baptist Church
Wednesday, November 7, 2018
Starts at 2:00 pm (Eastern time)
Stapleton Baptist Church
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