Onetia Sheppard

Onetia Sheppard of Woodway passed away peacefully Thursday, February 19, 2026, at her home. The graveside service will be 10:00 a.m., Wednesday, February 25, 2026, at Oakwood Cemetery, 2124 S. 5th St., Waco, TX. Visitation will be on Tuesday, February 24, from 5-7 p.m., at Wilkirson-Hatch-Bailey Funeral Home, 6101 Bosque Blvd., Waco, TX.

Onetia was a faithful follower and servant of Jesus Christ during her entire adult life. She was dearly known and counted on as a devoted prayer warrior and faithful friend to many. She will leave a lasting legacy and impact on many lives.

Onetia was born April 7, 1936, in Lufkin, Texas. She graduated from Lufkin High School in 1954 and received a scholarship. She attended Texas Tech University during her first year of college; however, she finished her degree in home economics and English at Sam Houston State Teachers College in 1957 with a B.S. in Education. While attending Sam Houston, she met her husband, Jack Sheppard, and they celebrated 63 years of marriage until he passed away in 2021. In August of 1957 they married in Lufkin, Texas, and both began teaching careers at Chester High School, where she taught home economics classes. Then she taught at Tarkington High School for several years. Their daughter, Londa, was born in 1960 and that summer they moved to Waco, where she taught English at LaVega Jr. High School. In 1966 their son, Brad, was born in Waco, and she loved being a stay-at-home mom and taking a break from her teaching career. She and her family became members of Woodway First Baptist Church in 1972 when they moved to Woodway and was a long-time, faithful member there. She then became a teacher at Midway Jr. High, where she taught 7th grade English until she retired. After retirement she and Jack had a business selling educational software to schools throughout the state of Texas. They also started a photography business and took many sports pictures, wedding pictures and family portraits. She loved reading, cooking, birding, gardening, and especially any conversation with her kids, grandkids or great- grandkids. One of her favorite places to visit was the beach at South Padre Island, where she and her family spent many vacations.

She was a devoted wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother, who was lovingly known as “Granny” to all. She is famous for her “Granny toast” and delicious brownies, which she made for her grandchildren and great-grandchildren on every visit. She was sweet, encouraging, joyful, and comforting to everyone. She loved her family and was so proud of her children and their spouses, grandsons and their wives, great-grandsons and great-granddaughters.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Jack Sheppard, and her parents, Minnie Lee and Hico Skelton. Survivors are her daughter, Londa Carlisle of The Woodlands; son, Brad Sheppard and his wife, Diane, of Pilot Point; grandsons, Blake Carlisle and wife, Jennifer, of Arlington; Lance Carlisle and wife, Lauren, of Magnolia; Samuel Sheppard, of Dallas; and Mason Sheppard and his wife, Alexis, of New Braunfels; great-grandchildren, Jackson, Sterling, Lorelai and Shiloh Carlisle, of Arlington; and great-granddaughters, Whitten, Baige and Laine, of Magnolia.

The family invites you to leave a message or memory on Onetia’s “Tribute Wall” at www.WHBfamily.com.