Family Card - Person Sheet
Family Card - Person Sheet
NameRev. Banks Shepherd 
Birth28 Oct 1928, Guilford County, NC
Death27 Sep 2015
Spouses
Marriage3 Jun 1951, First E&R Church, Salisbury, Rowan County, NC
ChildrenDavid (1953-)
Howard (1955-)
Elizabeth Ann “Beth” (1958-)
Robert Sterling (1961-)
Notes for Rev. Banks Shepherd
Rev. Banks D. Shepherd
Rev. Banks Deroy Shepherd, 86, passed away peacefully Sunday, Sept. 27, 2015, at Piedmont Crossing Health Care Unit. He is survived by his wife of 64 years, Eulene Fisher Shepherd; children David Shepherd (Barbara) of Vienna, Va., Howard Shepherd of Asheville, Robert S. Shepherd of Charlotte, Beth Shepherd Bliss of Brigantine, N.J. (Michael); grandchildren Benjamin A. Shepherd, Julia K. Shepherd and Julian Deroyce Bliss. Also survived by sisters Frances Matkins of Springfield, Va., and Betty Clary (Glenn) of Wendell; as well as a host of beloved nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by brother Paul Shepherd, brother-in-law Harlin Matkins and sister-in-law Hazel Epting.
Banks was born in Guilford County to Howard D. and Pearl Shepherd and graduated from Nathanael Greene High School in 1946. He attended Catawba College and Lancaster Theological Seminary, where he ultimately earned a Master of Divinity degree. In the early days of the Civil Rights Movement, he did post-graduate work at the Human Relations Institute of Fisk University. After his ordination in 1953 by the Southern Synod of the Evangelical and Reformed Church,
Banks enjoyed a long and rewarding career as a minister in the E&R and United Church of Christ, serving pastorates in Hickory, Mt. Pleasant, Concord, Claremont/Sherrills Ford, Winston-Salem and Lexington. His keen interest in church history led him to author “New Gilead Church: A History of the German Reformed People on Coldwater” (1966), and to become involved in the Southern chapter of the Evangelical and Reformed Historical Society, including a term as president. He also served on the steering committee and was president of the Board for the Eastern Catawba Cooperative Christian Ministry.
Banks's penchant for service work led him to work as a chaplain for and member of the Lexington Downtown Lions Club, which conferred a life membership upon him in 2003. He directed several camps at Johns River Valley Camp in Collettesville and was a past secretary and president of the board of trustees for the Blowing Rock Assembly Grounds/Conference Center.
An avid aficionado of folk arts, Banks had a talent for clock repair and for whittling figurines and toys, especially the gee-haw whimmydiddle. He also helped keep the tradition of storytelling alive by performing “Grandfather Tales” and “Jack Tales” throughout Western North Carolina.
In 2015, Banks received accolades from the Southern Highland Craft Guild for his work in keeping Southern folk arts alive by promoting the gee-haw whimmydiddle.
In retirement, Banks enjoyed supply preaching and travels with his wife Eulene, friends and family.
Arrangements: Visitation is on Sunday, Oct. 4, from 2-3:30 p.m. in the parlor of First Reformed United Church of Christ in Lexington. Memorial service follows in church sanctuary at 4 p.m.
Arrangements by Davidson Funeral Home of Lexington.
Memorials: Memorial donations may be directed to First Reformed United Church of Christ, Lexington, NC; or Nathanael Greene High School Class of 1946, Scholarship Fund.
Salisbury Post, 1 Oct 2015
Rev. Banks Deroy Shepherd, 86, passed away peacefully Sunday, Sept. 27, 2015, at Piedmont Crossing Health Care Unit. He is survived by his wife of 64 years, Eulene Fisher Shepherd; children David Shepherd (Barbara) of Vienna, Va., Howard Shepherd of Asheville, Robert S. Shepherd of Charlotte, Beth Shepherd Bliss of Brigantine, N.J. (Michael); grandchildren Benjamin A. Shepherd, Julia K. Shepherd and Julian Deroyce Bliss. Also survived by sisters Frances Matkins of Springfield, Va., and Betty Clary (Glenn) of Wendell; as well as a host of beloved nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by brother Paul Shepherd, brother-in-law Harlin Matkins and sister-in-law Hazel Epting.
Banks was born in Guilford County to Howard D. and Pearl Shepherd and graduated from Nathanael Greene High School in 1946. He attended Catawba College and Lancaster Theological Seminary, where he ultimately earned a Master of Divinity degree. In the early days of the Civil Rights Movement, he did post-graduate work at the Human Relations Institute of Fisk University. After his ordination in 1953 by the Southern Synod of the Evangelical and Reformed Church,
Banks enjoyed a long and rewarding career as a minister in the E&R and United Church of Christ, serving pastorates in Hickory, Mt. Pleasant, Concord, Claremont/Sherrills Ford, Winston-Salem and Lexington. His keen interest in church history led him to author “New Gilead Church: A History of the German Reformed People on Coldwater” (1966), and to become involved in the Southern chapter of the Evangelical and Reformed Historical Society, including a term as president. He also served on the steering committee and was president of the Board for the Eastern Catawba Cooperative Christian Ministry.
Banks's penchant for service work led him to work as a chaplain for and member of the Lexington Downtown Lions Club, which conferred a life membership upon him in 2003. He directed several camps at Johns River Valley Camp in Collettesville and was a past secretary and president of the board of trustees for the Blowing Rock Assembly Grounds/Conference Center.
An avid aficionado of folk arts, Banks had a talent for clock repair and for whittling figurines and toys, especially the gee-haw whimmydiddle. He also helped keep the tradition of storytelling alive by performing “Grandfather Tales” and “Jack Tales” throughout Western North Carolina.
In 2015, Banks received accolades from the Southern Highland Craft Guild for his work in keeping Southern folk arts alive by promoting the gee-haw whimmydiddle.
In retirement, Banks enjoyed supply preaching and travels with his wife Eulene, friends and family.
Arrangements: Visitation is on Sunday, Oct. 4, from 2-3:30 p.m. in the parlor of First Reformed United Church of Christ in Lexington. Memorial service follows in church sanctuary at 4 p.m.
Arrangements by Davidson Funeral Home of Lexington.
Memorials: Memorial donations may be directed to First Reformed United Church of Christ, Lexington, NC; or Nathanael Greene High School Class of 1946, Scholarship Fund.
Salisbury Post, 1 Oct 2015