A Short Life, Well-Lived

People throughout Patrick County and far beyond are deeply saddened by the tragic death of a remarkable young gentleman who lost his life prematurely Saturday night in a tragic auto accident that injured two fellow Patrick County High School graduates as the three drove home from from a post-graduation trip to the beach. 18-year-old Jesse Sheppard is being remembered as a radiant, joyful youth who loved his family, his music, fishing, and above all the Lord.

In an interview in the living room of his home Sunday evening, Jesse's grieving father, Eric Sheppard, a long-time friend of my family and a member of my church family, shared with me some of his beloved son's most remarkable accomplishments. "Jesse loved his music," said Eric Sheppard. In fact Jesse aspired to be a music instructor. Having just graduated from PCHS a week before the awful mishap that took his life, Jesse planned to attend Patrick Henry Community College and then to transfer to East Tennessee State University to purse his dream of becoming a band instructor. Jesse was a member of the PCHS Marching Cougars Band, the Pride of Patrick County, during his high school career. He was also a member of the relatively new bluegrass music group, the Downtown Boys, for which he played bass.

Jesse was a multi-faceted and talented youth whose interests extended far beyond music. He as active in drama in high school and in the community. For most of his school years, Jesse was involved in the 4-H program and had planned to attend 4-H camp this summer as a teen leader. In his spare time, Jesse also loved fishing, according to his father.

Above all, Jesse Sheppard was a Christian who loved Jesus and reflected his deep faith in the way that he lived his relatively brief life on Earth. He was a fellow member of Peter's Creek Baptist Church, having sung in the choir and participated in the church's youth group. Jesse was a proud member of the Patrick County High School Praise and Worship Team, a group of Christian students who visited local churches and performed gospel songs and gave their testimony at community functions. Jesse was certainly a young witness of his faith in Jesus Christ. In fact, he reportedly, led a fellow student who was a non-believer to a knowledge of Jesus through his personal witness.

"I was so proud of him," a heartbroken Eric Sheppard told me of his son Jesse during our conversation Sunday as he awaited the return of his son's body to Patrick County from North Carolina, site of the accident, and prepared to make funeral arrangements. "I know where he is, though," said Eric, taking comfort int he fact that Jesse is now in the presence of Jesus in Heaven awaiting a joyful reunion with his family and friends one sweet day.

Asked if the family has any particular need as they deal with their tremendous loss, Eric simply stated, "Prayer is what we need." Please joing the many in our small, close-knit community who are praying for the Sheppard family as well as the families of Jonathan Corns, the 19-year-old son of Billy and Elaine Corns of Critz, and Chris Howell, the 19-year-old son of Lemar and Lena Howell of the Moorefield Store Rd., Stuart, the two youths who suffered non-life threatening injuries in the crash that took their dear friend Jesse Sheppard. Jesse's life was very short but it was certainly a life well lived and one that serves as a good example of how we can better live our own lives by making Jesus our top priority.

Jesse is survived by his parents, Eric and Lisa Sheppard of Stuart and Wendy Wood Sheppard of Woolwine...one sister, Sarah Sehppard of Woolwine...a step-brother, Jonathan Woods of Stuart and a step-sister, Meredity Law of Stuart...his paternal grandparents, Geraldine and Bob McPeak of Stuart and Jimmy Sheppard of Stuart...his maternal grandparents, Benny and Connie Wood of Woolwine and his maternal great grandmother, Lillian C. Turner of Woolwine...his aunts and uncles, Kelly and Wade Hooker of Critz, Leslie and Tony Giorno of Salem, and Justin and Kayla Wood of Woolwine...cousins, Nicholas Hooker, Taylor Giorno, Hannah Giorno, and Kirstin Wood.

The funeral arrangements were still pending at the time of publication of this blog. Listen to "The Great Day in the Morning Show" weekdays from 6-10 a.m. for funeral arrangements and my continued tribute to the memory of this fine young man, my friend, Jesse Sheppard. May God rest his soul and comfort and strengthen his loving family.

Prayerfully yours,
Richard