I love the way my dapper Dans are dressed and groomed. They look like they walked off the set of Mad Men, all clean shaven with their white shirts, thin ties, suits, and hats.
Leroy was born in Hazlehurst, Mississippi on July 25, 1912, to the union of Jimmy Sr., and Lurany Shepard. He confessed hope in Christ at an early age and was baptized at New Zion MBC.
In 1946, Leroy relocated to Detroit, Michigan to begin building his dream. He was very talented and a "Jack of all Trades." Leroy was successful in providing for his family and contributing to the community. After 30 years, Leroy retired from Chrysler in 1978.
He remained an active member of the church and served as trustee Board member and Treasurer for many years.
Brother Shepard was a member of M.W. Unity Grand Lodge A.F.A.M., and the Wishful Master of the Rubican Lodge No. 8 and a 33rd Mason. In addition to being a Noble (Shriner), Temple of Osiris.
Late Tuesday night June 6, 1995, Leroy went home to be with the Lord
He leaves to cherish his memories: a wife Dora Shepard; one son, Jimmy Shepard Jr.; two daughters, Annie Pearl of Omaha, Nebraska and Connie Harris of Montgomery, Alabama; three sisters-in-law, Marie of Detroit, Mattie of Hazlehurst, Mississippi, and Eddie Mae of Illinois; fifteen grandchildren, twelve great grandchildren, and a host of other relatives, nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends. He also joins his beloved daughter Mary who preceded him in death.
Leroy's wife Dora Overton Shepard was my dad's 1st cousin.
Annie Bell, Mama, Alice
Aunt Annie Bell was the oldest of the three sisters. She was a half sibling, born seven years before my grandparents were married. Grandma married a man who could not be trusted to raise a female child who was not his and the decision was made Annie Bell would remain with grandma's grandma Alice.
Annie Bell Shephard Ealy
1912-2000
Grandma Gertrude had five children with her husband Mike: Mike, Jr., Alice, Rosie, Albert (my dad), and Ike. Aunt Annie remained in the same neighborhood regularly seeing her mother and siblings. She missed being raised by her mother and I suppose she felt jealousy toward her siblings for having a full time mother. Mike's children were jealous of Annie Bell. From their perspective, Annie was better fed, clothed and housed. They had to endure an abusive father.
Aunts Alice and Rosie had the same set of parents, raised in the same household and they had a difficult relationship. Aunt Alice was the sickly, delicate sister who was shielded from hard work in the fields. Aunt Rosie the youngest of the sisters worked in the fields, which caused resentment between the sisters.
Alice Durr Dent
1924-2000
The last few months of Aunt Rosie's life, she revealed she was sexually abused by her father. Aunt Alice never made that confession but the last months of her life she talked about how mean her father was, tears filling her eyes. I suspect both sisters were sexually abused by their father, each suffering in their own silence.
Rosie Lee Durr Scott
1928-1990
I don't have memories of the three sisters enjoying each other company. Alice and Rosie lived on the same street as grandma but I don't have memories of them socializing, I think they avoided each other. Annie lived in Detroit and would come to MS to visit her mother, and after grandma's death she would visit from necessity.
My mother's phone rung often with their disputes, minor slights turning to major arguments. How to cook an egg would turn to Annie Bell flying back to Detroit declaring to have nothing else to do with the Durrs.
In 1989, Aunt Rosie was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. She wanted to spend her last months in my mother's household but mama told her she thought it would be best if she stayed with her sister Alice. Aunt Rosie reluctantly went to live with Aunt Alice. Daily I took my mother to care for Aunt Rosie. Nursing the dying was not Aunt Alice's thing and what she could do, Aunt Rosie didn't want her doing. Aunt Rosie died in the hospital 08 May 1990, busy talking. Her heart just stopped.
Ten years later, Aunt Alice became ill. Aunt Annie was called and she came to MS for her last visit. Again, my mother was the mediator and caretaker, and again Aunt Annie flew back to Detroit displeased with her MS kin. We received a call in late May or early June that Aunt Annie had suffered a brain aneurism. She died 27 June 2000, showed her annoyance by leaving nothing to her remaining siblings in her will. Aunt Alice would succumb to colon cancer the same year, 10 Oct 2000.
Illness and the dying process didn't bring them closer.
James was from Hazlehurst, MS. He was born about 1895 and died Sept 1970 in Detriot, Michigan. He was an uncle to my aunt Annie Bell Shephard Ealy.
