Edwin Spencer Sheppard, 91, of Demopolis, died Sunday, March 23.

Services will be held Wednesday, March 26 at 11 a.m. at First Baptist Church of Demopolis with the Rev. Carl Williams officiating and Kirk Funeral Homes Demopolis Chapel directing. The family will receive visitors at the church beginning at 10 a.m. Burial will follow in Demopolis Memorial Gardens.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Twigg Henry Sheppard and Kate Dennis Sheppard; and his brother, Miles Henry Sheppard.

He is survived by his wife of 63 years, Alma Sirmans Sheppard; daughter, Holley Sheppard (Karl) LaGrone of Birmingham; son, Kevin Spencer (Carmen) Sheppard of Richmond, Va.; grandchildren, Cameron, Collin and Courtney Sheppard of Richmond, Va.; and a niece and nephews that he loved.

He was born in Winter Garden, Fla., on Feb. 26, 1923. He graduated from Bradford High School in Starke, Fla., and served six years service during World War II in the United States Navy. He attended the University of Florida on the GI Bill and earned a double major in electrical and industrial engineering.

He met his wife of 63 years, Alma Nell Sirmans, while attending college. He worked at paper mills in Jacksonville, Fla., and Valdosta, Ga., before moving to Demopolis in 1957 to work on the start-up of Gulf States Paper Corporation. He held various jobs at Gulf States and retired after 28 years of service as vice president and mill manager.

He loved God, his family, friends, his Florida Gators, golf and bridge. He taught a Sunday School class at First Baptist Church and served as a deacon.

Pallbearers will be Cameron Sheppard, Collin Sheppard, Kelly Etheridge, Fred Hansard, Al Giles and Johnny Johnston. Honorary pallbearers will be members of the Hugh Lloyd Sunday School Class of First Baptist Church.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorials be made to the First Baptist Church of Demopolis.