Obituary of Johnnye Jewell Sheppard

JOHNNYE “JEWELL” DAVIS SHEPPARD

2 Timothy 4:7-8 (King James Version)

 I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith:  ⁸ Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.

Johnnye Jewell was the second of four children born to Louis Wesley Davis, Sr., and Mahala Cook Davis, on December 21, 1924 in Dallas, Texas. 

Johnnye Jewell or Jewell as her family also called her was a graduate of Lincoln High School in Dallas, Texas and she received her Bachelor’s degree in Education from Prairie View A&M University, in Prairie View, Texas, and her Master of Education degree from North Texas State University, in Denton, Texas.

In 1947, Johnnye Jewell married M.T. Sheppard and to this union one beautiful child was born and she was named Sherri Yvonne.   

Jewell accepted Christ at a very young age at Boll Street C.M.E. Church in Dallas and was a faithful member of Cedar Crest Cathedral C.M.E. Church since its inception in 1966.  Her combined membership to both Boll Street C.M.E. and Cedar Crest Cathedral C.M.E. represents over 85 years of Christian dedication.

Jewell was employed as a first-grade teacher with Dallas Independent School District for over 33 years. 

She is preceded in death by her parents, two sisters (Doris King, Mardell Duncan) and one brother (Louis Wesley Davis, Jr.) along with her loving and devoted husband of 63 years, M.T. Sheppard, and her daughter Sherri Yvonne Sheppard Street, who passed on January 15, 2023 and son-in-law Amos Street, Jr., passed on December 2, 2022.

Jewell leaves to cherish her memories, sister-in-law, Precious Watkins Davis; nieces, Evelyn Rose, Denise Glasco (Rodney), Rhonda Davis; other family members, Ruby Pilot, David Sheppard, Dr. James Dickey (Charlotte), Ed Davis (Blanche), Donna Rose Wooten, Nicole Rose, Wesley Jerrod Glasco (Cassandra), Melvin Glasco, and Sanya’ Glasco; a host of other relatives including her great-great nephews and nieces.