Vara Alice (Fillyaw) Sheppard

Wade

Mrs. Vara Alice (Fillyaw) Sheppard, 81, went to be with her Lord on Saturday, February 15, 2025 surrounded by her family. She is preceded in death by her parents, Leon and Vernie Fillyaw; daughter, Louise Stephens; grandson, Marius Hathaway; and sister, Agnes Tally. Church attendance was very important to Vara. She was a longtime member of Freedom Baptist Church where she enjoyed singing in the choir and with groups of family and friends. She also taught girls Sunday School classes and faithfully worked in the nursery. Vara worked at the Ft. Bragg Army Education Center where she was a proficient typist and shorthand specialist. She retired as an administrative assistant at the VA Hospital. She loved camping trips in the mountains and at the coast. There was nothing she enjoyed more than relaxing with her family or reading a good book. She leaves a large family to cherish her memory. Wayne Sheppard, her husband of 43 years; children: Douglas Stephens III (Rhonda), Phyllis Smith (David), Keith Sheppard (Ilana), Angela Gilmore (Tracy), and Nathan Sheppard (Kayla); grandsons: Benjamin Smith, Douglas Stephens IV (Kathryn), DeLance Stephens, Darren Stephens, Kevin Sheppard, Branson Sheppard, Jason Hathaway (Brandy), Jameson Walton, and Noah Walton; granddaughters: Ashley Miller (Steven), Kristen Wilson (Steven), Brigette Stephens, Arianna Starr (Kaeden), Bailey Small (Brady), and Delanie Gilmore; and seven great-grandchildren: Henry, Jameson, Douglas V, Jacob, Margaret, Rose and Gracie; brother: Arthur Fillyaw; and a host of nieces, nephews, and friends.

Funeral services will be held at 2 PM on Saturday, February 22, 2025 at Freedom Baptist Church (2115 Middle Road, Eastover) with Pastor Paul Worley officiating. The family will receive friends from 12:30-1:50 at the church prior to the service. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Freedom Baptist Church, 2115 Middle Road, Eastover, NC 28312 or to the Charcot-Marie-Tooth Association (CMTA.org) in memory of Vara. Services entrusted to Butler Funeral Home, 6535 Clinton Rd, Stedman, NC 28391.