George Franklin Shepard, Sr., 86 of Charlotte, passed away on November 3, 2021 at his residence.  He was born on April 21, 1935 to his mother Queen Ester Shepherd and father, Joseph A. Culp.  George decided he would change the spelling of his last name.

He was a member of the United House of Prayer for all his life and was raised by his loving grandmother, Janie Shepherd and his grandfather, William Shepherd.  It was she who taught him how to play the piano, to love everyone and give God his best.  He would always say that he had a praying grandmother.

He received his formal education through the Mecklenburg County Public School System.  George briefly lived in Philadelphia and moved to California where he joined and served in the Army National Guard for three years.

George F. Shepard loved the House of Prayer and was filled with the Holy Ghost.  He was a member of the original band the Prodigal Sons, (known now as the Sounds of Zion) in Greenville Mission (now Charlotte #2).  Elder Cedric Mangum acquired his first trombone from Brother George Shepard.  For many years George traveled and served as a Grace Royal Guard for the United House of Prayer in Philadelphia, PA in 1951 under the leadership of Sweet Daddy Grace.

George F. Shepard was a member of International Free and Accepted Modern Masons and Order of the Eastern Star.  He was a member of the Sons of Moses Lodge #068 where he was a Master Mason.  He was the first lecturer for the state of North Carolina for International Free and Accepted Modern Masters and Order of the Eastern Star.  He held degrees in Royal Arch, Knights Templar and he was also a Shriner.

He retired from Florida Steel Corporation after 25 years as a Steel Recycling Processor.  He was married to Rebecca McKay Shepard for 30 years.  One of his favorite things he said was, "Oh how I love my wife."

He was preceded in death by his sister: Mary Alice Brown, step-son Michael Lorick and father-in-law Robert J. McKay.

He leaves to cherish his memory, his wife-Rebecca, three sons: Randy Sanders (Cassandra) of Charlotte, NC, Larry Dillingham (Martina) of Portland, OR and George F. Shepard II of Charlotte, NC, one daughter Saint LaVern Hammond (Benjamine) of Savannah, Ga, seven grandchildren, LaVonda Sanders, Precious Jefferson, Victoria McMillian, Larry Dillingham Jr., Edward Anthony Dillingham, Micah Lorick and Geziah Shepard, eleven great-grandchildren, one great-great grandchild, mother in law, Rebecca McKay, three brothers-in-law, Robert McKay (special friend-Patricia Massey), Elder Derrick Dunbar, Douglas Green, two sisters-in-law St. Barbara Dunbar, Regina Green and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.  Some of his God-children: Frederick Glenn, Robert Lindsay, Gwendolyn (Trudy), Carolyn, Audrey, Connie Davis, Derringer and Perry Dillingham and Tony Coleman.