Jean Prince Shepard

Jean Prince Shepard, 99, of Waco died peacefully, surrounded by loved ones, on Thursday, April 1, 2021. Mrs. Shepard, the daughter of Rev. and Mrs. (Evelyn Kane) Grover Prince, was born on November 14, 1921 in Chicago, Illinois. She attended Ouachita Baptist University from 1938-1940 and later graduated in June, 1948 from Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Kentucky. She earned a second degree in 1979 from Baylor University School of Music.

She married John W. Shepard, Jr. on June 9, 1948 at the First Baptist Church in Camden, Arkansas. They were appointed by the Foreign Mission Board of the Southern Baptist Convention to serve in China as missionaries. In preparation, they began their married life by studying Chinese at Yale University. After China was closed to missionaries by the Communist government, they were reassigned to Japan, arriving in 1950.

Dr. and Mrs. Shepard taught at Seinan University in Fukuoka, Japan where she taught courses in church music and worship at Seinan Seminary as well as teaching piano and organ to seminary students. They worked in Japanese churches, helping to establish Meinohama Baptist Church. They retired and moved to Waco in 1983. Her favorite Bible verse was Romans 8: 38-39 “I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love which Christ Jesus our Lord shows us. We can’t be separated by death or life, by angels or rulers, by anything in the present or anything in the future, by forces or powers in the world above or in the world below, or by anything else in creation.”

Mrs. Shepard was preceded in death by her husband and one daughter, Mary Carolyn Shepard. She is survived by her children: John W. Shepard, III of Waco; Margaret S. Thomson and husband Basil of Waco; Douglas K. Shepard and wife Lori of Austin; and Alan T. Shepard of Norman, Oklahoma. She is also survived by her grandchildren: Courtney Camejo and husband David; Michael Shepard and wife Molly; Andrew Shepard; CDR Christopher Rowan and wife Brittany; Matthew Rowan and wife Laurie; Robert Thomson and wife Lauren; Nathan Shepard and wife Kourtney; Sarah Ulusoy and husband Eren; Casper Shepard; Jessica Shepard; and by eleven great-grandchildren.

The family wishes to express their deep gratitude to Visiting Angels Doris Burkley and Susie Snell, and to Uni Murphy and the wonderful caregivers at Lake Ridge Healthy Living for their loving and attentive care during Jean’s last year of life.

A memorial service will be held at 10:00 AM on Saturday, April 10th, at Columbus Avenue Baptist Church. Social distancing and mask wearing will be observed. The service will be livestreamed at cabcwaco.org/specialstream. The link will not go active until the day before. Visitation will be from 6:00-8:00 PM on Friday at Oak Crest Funeral Home.

In lieu of flowers, gifts may be sent to Seventh & James Baptist Church or the Center for Christian Music Studies Excellence Fund.