Mrs. Joyce Shepherd Lancaster

April 17, 1935 - December 5, 2021

Cochran – Joyce Shepherd Lancaster, age 86, died peacefully Sunday, December 5, 2021, at her home. Funeral services will be held Saturday, December 11, 2021, at 2:00 P.M. in the Chapel of Fisher Funeral Home. Burial will be in Cedar Hill Cemetery. A visitation will be held Friday, December 10, 2021, from 6:00 P.M. to 8:00 P.M. at Fisher Funeral Home. Born and raised in Dooly County, Georgia, Joyce was the daughter of the late Joseph Daniel Bush and Gertrude Peavy Bush. Mrs. Joyce was a 1953 graduate of the Martha Berry School for Girls in Rome, GA. After her high school graduation she continued her education at Berry College in Rome, GA, where she completed her Bachelors of Science degree in Biology in 1957, the University of Georgia completing her Masters degree in Education in 1969 and her 6 year specialist degree in 1977 from Georgia Southern University. Mrs. Joyce and her husband Jack Douglas Shepherd, Sr., moved their family to Cochran in 1966. He was a CPA and farmer. She was a mother and educator, teaching at both Middle Georgia College and Bleckley County Schools. She retired from teaching after 34 years of service. Joyce was a member of Bleckley County retired teachers and past president, First Baptist Church of Cochran, Daughters of the American Revolution, and former member of Alpha Delta Kappa where she served as past district chairman and past president. She was preceded in death by her husbands, Jack Douglas Shepherd, Sr., and Thomas Roswell Lancaster (Tommy); two sisters, Joan Bush Wiese and Peggy Bush Cooper, and a brother, George Mack Bush. Mrs. Joyce was a devoted mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, and friend. In her free time she enjoyed spending time with her family, cooking, reading, and gardening. Left to cherish her memories are her children, Jack Douglas Shepherd, Jr. and his wife Denise, Joseph Scott Shepherd and his wife Sydney, and Ann Shepherd Young and her husband Jim; step-children, Betsy Stewart Taunton and her husband Jeff and Tom Lancaster; grandchildren and great-grandchildren, Gracie Shepherd, Joseph Shepherd, Samuel (Cam) Shepherd, George Shepherd, Sydney (Kitty) Shepherd, Louisa Shepherd, Joyce Anna Shepherd, Jack Shepherd III, Warren Shepherd, William Moon (Carlie), Douglas Shepherd Moon, Payton Young Allen (Chris), Hudson Allen, Cason Young, Curry Young, Jenna Stewart Mashburn (Troy), Trae Stewart (Melissa), Joseph Stewart (Erica), Tori Leavens (DJ), Chance Lancaster, Andrew Taunton (Nola), Jessica Cannon, Will Mashburn, Abby Mashburn, Jaye-Beth Womble, Jude Womble, Eliza Mashburn, Sara Stewart, Mari Cate Stewart, James Stewart, Harper Stewart, Lanier Cannon, Banks Cannon, Ava Taunton, Madison Leavens, Gracie Leavens, Breelyn Lancaster, and Jaelyn Lancaster; special friend and caregivers, Lesley Davis and Sunshine Anderson. Flowers will be accepted but if you would like to make a contribution in lieu of flowers, a contribution may be made to the Alzheimer's Association in her honor. Donations can be made to: https://www.alz.org or by calling 1-800-272-3900. The family is at the Shepherd-Lancaster residence at GA Hwy 87 South, Cochran, GA.