Joanne Bowman Shepherd

Mary Joanne Bowman Shepherd died peacefully at the age of 92 on February 5th, 2026 in Hillsborough, North Carolina. Joanne was born in Browns Summit, NC, a farming community outside Greensboro, on October 23, 1933 and spent her entire childhood there. She completed her nursing degree at Rex Hospital School of Nursing in Raleigh, NC and she met Reeves Thompson Shepherd of Laurel Springs, NC while he was also in Raleigh studying electrical engineering at NC State. They married on September 9, 1956 at Gethsemane Church in Browns Summit. She worked as a nurse at several outpatient clinics in Maryland, where they lived before moving to Ft Lauderdale, FL in 1968. Due to the passing of Thompson’s father they moved to Sparta, NC in 1972 and lived there for 2 years before finally settling in Margate, FL where they lived for 32 years. While living in Florida, Joanne and Thompson instilled the value of family in their children, spending time with family in North Carolina every summer.

Joanne and Thompson were married for 52 years, becoming a widow with the passing of Thompson. Joanne was devoted to her husband, children, and grandchildren. As a mother, she provided an abundance of unconditional love, understanding, consistency and support. She was dedicated to her faith and enjoyed attending church throughout her life, most recently becoming a member of Epworth United Methodist Church in Concord, NC.

She enjoyed bowling and was a Brunswick league bowler for many years. In her later years Joanne started to travel, spending time in Ecuador, the Galapagos and France, as well as exploring within the United States. With her health declining, she moved to Chapel Hill, NC in 2021 to be closer to her son and grandchildren. She is survived by her brother Jerry Bowman, sons, Mark Thompson Shepherd (55) and Daniel Bowman Shepherd-Banigan (47), daughter-in-law Megan Shepherd-Banigan (47), and two grandchildren (Orion Shepherd -14 and Elizabeth Shepherd - 11). She is predeceased by her parents Mildred Weaver Bowman and Walter Obadiah Bowman, husband Reeves Thompson Shepherd, and sister Peggy Mitchell. 

A memorial service will be held at Epworth United Methodist Church on March 22, 2026 at 2pm; light reception to follow. In lieu of flowers please send donations to the Alzheimer’s Association.