Karen Janeice “Jan” Bailey Sheppard, 68, of Tifton passed away Tuesday, March 17, 2026, at Emory Winship Midtown in Atlanta. Her funeral service will be held at 11:00 a.m. Saturday, March 21, 2026, in the Memorial Chapel of Tifton’s First Baptist Church with the Rev. Bruce Merriman officiating. A eulogy will be given by Greg Sheppard. A private interment will be held immediately following the service.
Marty Freeman, Terrell Roberson, Michael Spinks, Glen Willis, Patrick Atwater, and Adam McMillan will serve as pallbearers.
Born March 7, 1958, in Tifton, Mrs. Sheppard was the daughter of the late George Rufus Bailey and Therlus Cloteele “Teele” Dryden Bailey. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by one daughter, Ashton Flynt. She earned her master’s degree in education and taught school for the Tift County Board of Education. She was a member of Tifton’s First Baptist Church.
Mrs. Sheppard leaves behind her husband, Greg Sheppard of Tifton; two daughters and one son-in-law, Allison Flynt of Tifton and Ansley and Josh Culver of Choctaw, Oklahoma; two sisters and brothers-in-law, Gina and David McMillan and Judy and James Herring, all of Tifton; three grandchildren, Kayden Culver, Jantzen Culver and Chandler Culver, all of Choctaw, Oklahoma; her mother-in-law, Mona Sheppard of Tifton; a sister-in-law, Pam Sheppard of Tifton; and several nieces and nephews.