Dr. Banks Shepherd

August 6, 1934 — September 27, 2023

Aberdeen

Dr. Thomas Banks Shepherd, Jr., 89, of Aberdeen, MS died on September 27, 2023 at Sanctuary Hospice House in Tupelo, MS after a brief illness. 

He was born on August 6, 1934 in Lexington, MS, to parents Thomas Banks Shepherd and Grace Ashley Shepherd.

Banks graduated from Lexington High School, where he played football and basketball. He received his Bachelor’s degree from the University of Mississippi in 1956. At Ole Miss he was twice elected Editor of the Ole Miss annual and was a member of the Phi Delta Theta fraternity. In 1963, he received his Doctor of Dental Surgery degree from the University of Tennessee in Memphis, TN.  He began practicing family dentistry in Aberdeen, MS in January of 1964 and retired in 2020.

Banks met the love of his life and wife of 66 years, Mary Ann Murphree Shepherd while at Ole Miss.  They married on May 10, 1957, and lived in Panama City, FL, Solomons, MD, Oxford, MS, and Memphis, TN, before settling in Aberdeen in 1964 where they lived and raised their family. Mary Ann died July 14, 2023. 

Banks had wide and varying interests, activities, and hobbies. Many happy times were shared with family and friends at Pickwick Lake, boating and water skiing. He was an avid photographer his entire life. Over the years, he collected old glass bottles, glass insulators, artistic prints, clocks, Hummel figurines, rare coins, and arrowheads. He was an avid genealogist. He loved to travel. He and Mary Ann toured more than 30 countries (three trips to Africa) and most of the states of the United States.  But most of all, he loved to watch the Ole Miss Rebels play and for decades had season tickets for football, basketball and baseball games. His children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren were often seen attending games with him. For several decades, he served as Trustee for the Evans Memorial Library.

He was a faithful member of Aberdeen First United Methodist Church, teaching Sunday school, and serving on the Board and various committees. He had a strong faith and looked forward to a heavenly reunion with his wife, parents, sister Sissy, and his best friend Walter Lann. His gentleness and sense of humor will be missed by his family, many friends, and patients.

Banks is survived by his three children, Tommy Shepherd (Mary Scott) of Jackson, MS, Susan Sanders of Aberdeen, MS, and Eva Ann Shepherd of Houston, TX.

Banks and Mary Ann had eight grandchildren: Banks Shepherd (Jenna) of Winston Salem, NC, Martin (Randle) Shepherd of Nashville, TN, Ashley (Brent) Forrester of Caledonia, MS, Mary Margaret (Brett) Basham of Birmingham, AL, April (Jay) Jacobs of Oxford, MS, Torrie Hardcastle of Houston, TX, Mary Hannah (Andy) Ellis of Leeds, England, and Christian (Astrid) Hardcastle of Galveston, TX.

He and Mary Ann also had ten great-grandchildren: Polly Shepherd, Micki Grace Forrester, Thomas Forrester, Charlotte Basham, Molly Basham, Bella Jacobs, Nola Jacobs, Maya Davis, Mikey Hardcastle, and Maverick Hardcastle. Banks loved all of the members of his family and was very proud of them and their accomplishments.  His family believes we could not have chosen a better father, grandfather, or great grandfather.

Visitation with family and friends will be in the Fellowship Hall at the First United Methodist Church, 300 College Place, Aberdeen from 4-6 p.m. on Sunday, October 1, 2023. A memorial service will be held at 11:00 am on Monday, October 2, 2023 at the church as well.  Burial for both Banks and Mary Ann will be at Odd Fellows Rest Cemetery immediately following the service.

Memorials may be given to The Sanctuary Hospice House, P.O. Box 2177, Tupelo, MS 38803,  Aberdeen First United Methodist Church, P.O. Box 93, Aberdeen, MS 39730, or the charity of your choice.