Nan Storie Shepherd

Graveside services for Nan Storie Shepherd, 89, of Greenville will be at 2:30 p.m. on Wednesday, February 22, 2023 at the Greenville Cemetery. She died on Monday, February 20, 2023.

Nan was born on June 16, 1933, to Bryce Walter and Jessie Arnette Storie in Watauga County, North Carolina.  Her family moved to southwestern Virginia in 1944.  She graduated from Glade Spring High School in Glade Spring, VA and attended business college in Johnson City, TN.  After completing school, she worked as a secretary to the office manager at Burlington Mills in Johnson City.  

In 1954, she married James K. Farmer, Jr. and moved to Greenville, MS.  She began working at Washington County General Hospital (now Delta Health System) in 1955 where she remained for 44 years, spending all of that time in the Radiology Department.  In 1998, she received awards from Delta Health System and the S. Douglas Smith Quorum of Excellence in appreciation of Loyal and Dedicated Service.  

In 1988, Nan married the Reverend Ted Shepherd, and they enjoyed 25 wonderful years together.  She was a devoted member of the First Baptist Church where she taught pre-school and Sunday school for 41 years.  Nan was also an active member of the Woman’s Missionary Union where she served in various capacities.  During their time together, she served alongside her husband Reverend Shepherd in the Chinese Mission for many years where she taught a Sunday school class for the children.  If you knew Nan, then you know she loved her church.

She is preceded in death by her husband Ted Shepherd, both parents, her sister Rachel S. Caldwell, and brothers George R. Storie, Walter Thomas Storie, Paul M. Storie, and son-in-law James Martin Crawford, Sr.  

She’s survived by her children Ken Farmer (Pam) and Leta Crawford.  Her stepdaughters Jackie S. Beckwith (Bill) of Taylor, MS, Anne S. Combest (Gene) of Germantown, TN, and Millie S. Smith (Bob) of Batesville, MS.  Grandchildren Cameron Farmer (Erin) of Madison, MS, Martin Crawford (Gretchen) of Starkville, MS, Emily Bennett (Josh) of Greenville, MS, Laura C. Mitchell of Germantown, TN, Blair Combest of Memphis, TN, Jacob Smith (Amanda) of Memphis, TN, Josh Smith (Brooke) of Washington D.C., and Clay Beckwith of Oxford, MS.  Great-grandchildren Amelia and Kellum Farmer of Madison, MS and Mary Martin and Cooper Crawford of Starkville, MS.  Also, she is survived by a brother Edgar Storie (Betty) and one sister Elizabeth Jolly of Abingdon, VA.

Visitation will be held Wednesday, February 22, from 1:00-2:00 at the chapel at First Baptist Church, Greenville. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to First Baptist Church, Greenville, or the Greenville St. Vincent de Paul.