Granny O, as she was known to many, was born October 2, 1926, to Willie Martin Shepherd and Ethel Marie Nester Shepherd in Gholson, MS. She attended East Mississippi Community college (Scooba) and Mississippi State University. After graduation, she began her teaching career in which she influenced the lives of many young people. After marrying Royce McBrayer, they attended Louisville First Methodist Church, where she was a member for over 70 years. During those years, one of her fondest memories was teaching youth Sunday school. When not teaching, she attended the Ed Livingston Sunday School Class. She was also active in the community by being a member of the Business and Professional Women’s Club, the Eastern Star, and supporting the Friends of Legion Park. After her teaching career, Opal worked at the ASCS office and retired from the Winston County Welfare Department with 43 years of service to the state. She lived her life as a Christian, always helping and caring for others. She blessed many by sharing fresh vegetables from their garden and her well-known caramel cakes. She was a loving wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, sister, aunt, and friend who will be greatly missed.
Opal is preceded in death by her parents; her husband of 67 years, Clinton Royce McBrayer; her sisters, Lois McMullen, Carolyn Rester, Cherry Dailey Stribling; and her brothers, Bo Shepherd, Brooks Shepherd, and John Shepherd.
She is survived by a daughter, Maria McBrayer Hartness (Ricky); granddaughters: Nan Hartness and Bailey (Corey) Coward; great-grandsons, Mac Coward and Bo Coward, all of Louisville; sisters, Madge Fields of Columbus, MS, Sallie Henderson of Boise, ID; Gloria (Charles) Bynum of Hattiesburg, MS; and Faye Coleman of Macon, MS; as well as numerous nieces and nephews.
The family would like to express their gratitude to Quality Care Hospice, especially Courtney Boatner and Carol Marie Mars for their wonderful and loving care. Also, her family thanks Talishwa Elmore, Aliya Westbrook, and Sherry Duran for the compassionate and loving way they cared for Granny O over the past two years. They are more than caregivers; they have become family.
Pallbearers will be Giles Ward, Charles Bond, Jerry Nance, Moe Yarbrough, Wesley Clark, Steve Triplett, Hap Hickman, Wade Hailey, Lee Verry, Al Porter, Hal Overstreet, Frank Kennedy, Hugh Whiteside, Todd Tabor, and Terrell Bell.
2 Corinthians 5:7 – “for we walk by faith, not by sight.”
Memorials may be made to First Methodist Church, P. O. Box 523, Louisville, MS, 39339.