Billy David Shepard, 91, of Brownsboro, Alabama passed away on Wednesday September 7,2022.

Born in Woodville in 1931, Billy D. Shepard grew up in Paint Rock and went on to become one of the best three-sport lettermen in the history of Madison County High School. He lettered in football, basketball and baseball at Gurley every year from the eighth grade on and played on several teams that won county championships. During his freshman year, Shepard won all-county and all-district honors and helped lead Gurley — nicknamed the "Cotton Pickers" in those days — to its first state basketball tournament appearance. Gurley finished third in the state tournament that year. Shepard also pitched the Madison County baseball team, which went 11-0 in the regular season, to its first appearance in the state baseball playoffs. On the football field, Shepard became known as one of W. O. Woolley's "Six Great Horses." After his graduation from high school, Shepard signed a full athletic scholarship with Bethel College in Tennessee, where he lettered not only in basketball but also football and baseball. He was an honorable mention all-conference player in basketball. After his graduation from college, Shepard coached basketball and baseball at Hazel Green High School in 1954, then moved across the county to his alma mater the following year, coaching basketball, baseball and football from 1955-57.He is a member of the Bethel University and Huntsville-Madison County Athletic Halls of Fame Bill Shepard continued to be involved in athletics for many years thereafter as the coach of various youth teams and also as a high school official. After leaving coaching he worked at IBM and later retired from Chrysler.

He loved his church and was an elder in the 1 ^st CP Church Huntsville. He adored his wife and cherished his family life. He will be greatly missed; and we will be forever influenced by the way he lived his life.

He is preceded in death by, parents Hugh and Annie Laura Shepard and siblings Jay Shepard, Melvin Shepard, and Maxine Hollingsworth.

He is survived by, wife, Elizabeth "Sissie" Shepard; daughter, Darlynn Hooks (Mike) of Hoover,Al.; Son, David Shepard (Judy) of Mt.Juliet, TN; grandchildren, Lauren Shepard and Brandon Shepard. Several nieces and nephews and a host of other family and friends.

The family will have a funeral service at 2 pm on Sunday September 11,2022.. Visitation is at 1 pm.. Both at the First Cumberland Presbyterian Church in Huntsville, Al. Bill's interment will be held at the Maple Hill Cemetery. with the Rev. Richard Hughes officiating.

In leu of flowers please donate to the Cumberland Presbyterian Children''s Home.