Margaret Johnson Shepherd

Margaret Ann “Peggy” Johnson Shepherd, a long-time resident of Chesterfield County, departed from this life on Wednesday the 24th of May, 2017 at The Crossings at Bon Air retirement community. She was preceded by her husband of 53 years, Leonard Ray “Shep” Shepherd and her parents, Henry Clayton Johnson and Alice Ewell Johnson.

In 1929 Peggy was born in Danville, VA, but she considered Norfolk, VA her home since her family moved there when she was a baby. Peggy was the first in her family to attend college. She earned her A.A. from Old Dominion University in 1949 and her B.S. in Occupational Therapy from the Richmond Professional Institute (now known as Virginia Commonwealth University) in 1953. In her career she worked as an occupational therapist at Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN (1953-54), the Medical College of Virginia (MCV), Richmond, VA (1954, and 1968 – 89), and the Tidewater Cerebral Palsy Center, Norfolk, VA (1955). She served as Assistant Director at MCV before her retirement in 1989.

After receiving her degree, Peggy married Shep, her long-time friend from Maury High School, in 1954 after his return from serving in the Air Force in Japan during the Korean War. They were soon blessed with four children and relocated from Norfolk, VA to Bristol, TN in 1957, and then to Richmond, VA in 1966.

Peggy was known for her lovely alto voice (she sang in the USO), wonderful smile that would light up any room, and extraordinary talent in needlework. She was always creating beautiful afghans, Christmas stockings, blankets, and samplers for her children and grandchildren. She was an avid reader, Girl Scout leader, and loved travelling with Shep in their RV after retirement.

She is survived by her sister, Alice Johnson Vaughan and her husband Edwin and their family; her four children, Susan Shepherd Longest, Steven Shepherd and his wife Daryl, David Shepherd, and Thomas Shepherd and his wife Mary Beth; her eight grandchildren, Dr. Sarah Longest Stubbs and her husband Aaron, Nathan Longest, Erin Shepherd, Clayton Shepherd and his wife Rebecca, Emily Shepherd, Austin Shepherd, Alison Shepherd, and Britney Shepherd; and her two great grandchildren, Abigail and Lillian Stubbs; all of whom brought great joy to Peggy throughout her life.

A celebration of life service will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, June 10, 2017 at Woody Funeral Home, Parham Chapel, 1771 N. Parham Rd. Richmond, VA. 23229. Entombment will take place at 2 p.m. at Forest Lawn Cemetery, 4000 Pilots Ln. Richmond, Va. 23222.

A memorial gift may be made in Peggy’s memory to the Make-A-Wish® foundation (wish.org). Online condolences may be sent to woodyfuneralhomeparham.com.