Wilbur "Shep" Shepherd, Sr. was born in Pine Mountain, Georgia on May 14, 1947, to the late Abbie & Mary Emma Shepherd. On Saturday January 15, 2011, his soul returned to God.

Shep, as he was affectionately known, was educated in the public school system of Harris County and was a graduate of George Washington Carver High School in 1965. Following high school, Wilbur enlisted in the United States Army serving with distinction for 4 years.

Upon being honorably discharged from the Army, he relocated to Atlanta and joined the Atlanta Police Department, where he served for 32 years as a patrolman and criminal investigator. After retiring from APD, Shep continued his law enforcement duties with the Ben Hill United Methodist church as a security officer and security director for over 25 years.

In 1978, Shep met the love of his life, Janet Ann Hall. They were married on June 27, 1987. They both worshipped together a the Greenbriar Church of Christ (now Camp Creek) where he was baptized and added to the Lord's Church. Shep was a lover of music and loved collecting miniature antique cars. One of his favorite pastimes was spending time with his dogs; Cody, Star, Andy, Ladybug, Rambo, and Fluff.

His influence will be missed in the lives of his loving and devoted wife, Janet Ann; son, Wilbur Jr.( Dana); daughter, Gwendolyn; five grandsons, Charles, Malik, Davious, William & Wilbur III; three granddaughter, Chloe, Laura & Sidney; four brothers, Willie George, Abbie Jr., Earl (Mary), and Leonard; six sisters, Catherine (Charlie), Elizabeth, Claudia (Joseph), Dorothy, Vernetta, and Lucille; his mother in law, Ruby; four brothers in law, Eugene (Janet), Gary (Rebecca), Carlton, and William (Lillian); a sister in law, Vivian; mother of his two children, Laura; his god-children, Jarvis and Joshua;Two special relatives, niece, Shirley & cousin, David, and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.