Ellen C. Shepherd

Ms. Ellen Shepherd, age 92, a resident of Columbia, passed away Sunday, November 4, 2018 at Life Care Center in Columbia.

A funeral service will be held on Wednesday at 11AM at Heritage Funeral Home with Pastor James Maddox officiating. Burial will follow in Polk Memorial Gardens. A visitation will be held on Wednesday from 9-11AM at the funeral home. Heritage Funeral Home is assisting the family with arrangements.

Born on June 5, 1926 in Maury County, Ellen was the daughter of the late John D. Crigger and the late Mary Jane Holder Crigger. Throughout her life she lived in Tacoma, Washington, Greenville, South Carolina, and Panama City, Florida. Ellen previously worked at the Tennessee Orphans Home, Tennessee Knitting Mill, and Giant Foods. She was a member of Straightway Christian Center in Columbia. Dedicated to her desire to spread the Gospel to others, Ellen served as a Sunday School teacher in Chateauroux, France and Okinawa, Japan and visited thirty-five states telling others about Jesus. She loved people and would do anything for anybody in need, including giving donations even when she didn’t have it. She also loved flowers and gardening.

She is survived by her step son: Danny Shepherd; sisters: Eunice Crigger, Clara June Crigger; step grandchildren: Amanda Shepherd, Dennis Shepherd; and step great grandchildren: Luke Shepherd, Megan Shepherd, and Sadie Jean Shepherd.

Along with her parents, she was preceded in death by her first husband: William E. Groomes; and second husband: A.J. Shepherd; brothers: Nathan D. Crigger, John Howard Crigger, Royce Crigger, Gaston Crigger, Johnny Colby Crigger; and sisters: Ethel Crigger Cross, Virginia Crigger Dudley, and Eva Crigger.