WINTER HAVEN - Ommie Cumbie Sheppard of Winter Haven, Florida, passed away Thursday, June 19, at the Good Shepherd Hospice House in Auburndale, Florida, due to respiratory failure, just days after her 95th birthday.

 

Born Ommie Loyce Barfield on June 17, 1913, in Tifton, Georgia, to John H. and Susie Jones Barfield.  Mrs. Sheppard attended the St. Augustine School for the Deaf and Blind.  As the last remaining member of the graduating class of1935, she was honored as its oldest graduate at the FL D&B Reunion June 2006.

 

A life long resident of Polk County, Mrs. Sheppard was a member of the Florida State and Polk County Associations for the Deaf and the Polk County Silent Friends.  Having been a member of Inwood Baptist Church since 1958, she was honored at its Homecoming Celebration on June 8, 2008, as its oldest Charter Member.

 

Married to Johnnie Dean "J.D." Cumbie from May 1, 1936, until his passing January 1984, Mrs. Sheppard is survived by her husband of 12 years Robert "Shep" Sheppard, brothers - Hinton Barfield of Winter Haven, Harold Barfield of Jacksonville, Hollis Barfield of Vero Beach, and sister Threse Carden of Colorado Springs, CO.  She was preceded in death by her sister Betty Jo Henry of Haines City. 

 

Mrs. Sheppard is also survived by her loving daughters of whom she was so proud - Emma "Sunny" Geiger of Winter Haven, Jackie Uranick of Lakeland, and Kathryn Danella of Boca Raton, step-sons Steve Sheppard and Pat Sheppard, and step-daughters Brenda Mobley and Yvonne Kelsy, three grand children - Kari Coleman, Keli Rowden, and Ashley Dean Danella, five great grand children - Beau Geiger, Justin Overton, Amber Coleman, Bradley Coleman, and Parker Rowden, and two great-great grandchildren - Avery Nichols and Grace Geiger.  All of whom she loved dearly.

 

Friends may visit with the family on Monday, June 23 from 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm at Oak Ridge Funeral Care, 2425 Havendale Boulevard, Winter Haven, Florida.  Services will be held in the Funeral Care Chapel on Tuesday, June 24 at 10:00 a.m. and will be officiated by Rev. Glenn Combee and Rev. Henry Slater.  Interment will follow at Lakeside Memorial Park. 

 

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be sent to Good Shepherd Hospice, 105 Arneson Avenue, Auburndale, FL 33823.  Condolences may be sent to the family at www.oakridgefuneralcare.com.