TIFTON — Rosalie Lennon Shepherd, 98, of Tifton died Thursday, Nov. 5, 2009, at Cypress Pond Assisted Living. Graveside funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. at Oakridge Cemetery. Dr. Wayne Roe and Dr. W. Ches Smith III will officiate with burial to follow at Oakridge Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 6 to 8 p.m. Saturday in the sanctuary of Tifton's First Baptist Church on Love Avenue.

Ms. Shepherd was born on Sept. 12, 1911 in Irwin County and was the daughter of Woodberry Lennon and Alda Rebecca Henderson Lennon, both deceased. She was also preceded in death by her first husband, Dr. Charlton J. Houston, who died in 1938; her second husband, James L. Shepherd; and her sister, Elizabeth Lennon. During her career, she worked in several administrative and accounting positions, including secretary for Colonel P. D. Fulwood, coordinator for World War II Veteran Affairs at Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College and retiring as executive secretary for Stafford Enterprises. She was a life-long resident of Tifton.

Ms. Shepherd was a member of Tifton's First Baptist Church and had a great love for the music ministry. She was instrumental in the renovation and expansion of the beautiful pipe organ in the church sanctuary. Because of her great love for church music, especially the organ, the Saturday visitation will be held in the sanctuary at First Baptist Church, with live organ music being shared.

Ms. Shepherd is survived by a niece and her husband, Becky and Jimmie Crowder of South Hill, Va.; two nephews, Jim Shepherd of Granite City, Texas, and Marshall Adams of Knoxville, Tenn.; and two great nephews, Jimmie Crowder of South Hill, Va., and Stephen Crowder of Nashville, Tenn.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the First Baptist Church organ performance fund. You may express online condolences to the family at www.bowen-donaldson.com. Bowen-Donaldson Home for Funerals is in charge of arrangements.