SAMUEL G. SHEPPERSON
The Reverend Samuel Glasgow Shepperson died Tuesday, May 15 at the Medical Center of South Arkansas in the company of two sons and one granddaughter, bringing to a close his long and fruitful life. We are confident he had a successful passage to his home in heaven because of his personal faith in Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord of his life.
Brother Sam or Sammy (as he was often affectionately called) was born in 1924 in Chester, South Carolina, the fourth child of Reverend Dr. Flournoy and Nellie McGill Shepperson.
He had three siblings, Flournoy Jr., Fannelle and George. He grew up in Greenville, South Carolina, attended Columbia Bible College and graduated from Furman University and Faith Theological Seminary.
He first came to Arkansas in 1949 to help his sister Fannelle with a Vacation Bible School for their uncle Dr. David Shepperson, who was pastoring the First Presbyterian Church of El Dorado at that time. It was in El Dorado where he met a group of people on Marrable Hill Road interested in starting a non-denominational church. He took the job with a salary of $200 a month (“if it comes in”). He went on to pastor Marrable Hill Chapel for the next forty-six years.
During his lifetime, some of his other ministries included Real Life Club, Victory Bible Camp, El Dorado Theological Seminary professor, authoring two books (The Lord’s Doing and A Word from the Pastor daily devotional) and countless radio recordings. After retirement from Marrable Hill Chapel, he pastored an additional ten years at Scotland Presbyterian Church in Junction City, Arkansas.
He will always be remembered for his commitment to the Word of God, his tireless pursuit of people with the good news of Jesus Christ, his love for the church, his passion for world missions, his enthusiastic leadership, his constant whistle and smile with a funny story or joke to tell, and his faithfulness to the end. Now, his legacy lives on in our very lives to be passed along.
He was preceded in death by his parents, three siblings, and his wife of fifty-nine years Dorothy Lyle Shepperson. He is survived by three sons Lyle McGill, John Hampton and Joel Zachary, his daughter in law, Kim Shepperson and seven grandchildren, Siyun, Joanyun Polus (Christian Polus), Wiyun, Emili, Gwyneth, Samuel and Hampton.
A memorial celebration of his life will be held at Marrable Hill Chapel on June third at 3 pm with visitation to follow.
In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts can be made through Marrable Hill Chapel to three ministries dear to Brother Sam:
1. Marrable Hill Chapel Missionary Faith Promise, which supports missionary ministries around the world.
2. Shepperson Ministry Scholarship Trust, which will support students preparing for full-time ministry.
3. Victory Bible Camp.
Please indicate your choice with your gift and send to: Marrable Hill Chapel,110 Chapel Ave, El Dorado, 71730.
“Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy, to the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen.” Jude 24-25.
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