Dollie Best (Foster) Shepherd

Dollie Best Shepherd departed this life on Tuesday, March 19, 2019 at Hanson Hospice Center, in Stevensville after a very brief illness.  Dollie was born June 15, 1948 to the union of the late Nathaniel and Bythan Foster in Goldust, Tennesee.

Dollie Shepherd attended Howardville Elementary School in Howardville, MO.  As a child and into early adulthood, Dollie spent a many days laboring as a migrant worker traveling from harvest to harvest in various cities and states picking seasonal crops such as cotton, oranges, pickles, cherries, apples, etc.  Later in life she worked as a custodian for Hardy’s Janitorial Service and the Young Men Christian Association (YMCA).  After her health declined, she spent the remainder of her years as a Domestic Engineer and finding ways to serve the Lord and those less fortunate in her local community.  For many years, she ran the Food Pantry at Zion Temple providing weekly food baskets for those less fortunate.

Dollie was reared in the Church of God in Christ (COGIC) from birth and was baptized early in life. She was a member of Hayden Street Church of COGIC under the late Superintendent John Dupree, Fort Wayne, Indiana, Power House COGIC under the late Elder Nathaniel Franklin Foster, Benton Harbor, Michigan and Zion Temple Church of God In Christ, Benton Harbor, Michigan.  It was at Zion Temple, where she flourished and rooted herself – getting deeply involved in the church. She received her Evangelist Missionary License from the Southwest Michigan Jurisdiction and remained a very faithful servant for over 30 years at Zion Temple.  During these years, she served as a Pastor’s Aide, President of the Young Women Christian Council, Church Nurse, Member of the Usher Board, Coordinator of the Annual Prayer Breakfast and President of the Annual Youth Day Celebration.  

In her spare time, Dollie enjoyed spending time with her children, family and friends.  She enjoyed traveling; cooking and baking; completing arts and crafts projects; watching her favorite tv shows (Family Feud, The Jeffersons, Fred Sanford and Son, and The Golden Girls).  In recent years, the highlight of her day was attending a Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE).  PACE was the place where she would lead exercise classes and work on her arts and crafts projects.

She leaves to cherish her memories her precious children Jessie Lee Thomas (Oshkosh, WI), Eddie Lee Thomas (Southfield, MI), Adella Ross (Benton Harbor, MI), Vonetta (Morris) Woods (Bowling Green, KY), Carlos Lee Thomas (Benton Harbor, MI).  Brother Willie (Marie) Foster (Memphis,TN). Sisters Betty Burton and Pearl Lewis (Benton Harbor, MI).  Grandchildren Jessica, Patrick, Kendra, Morgan, Johnathan, Advontae and Jaylen. Great-grandchildren Patrick and Ancil (Benton Harbor, MI) along with a host of other step-brothers and sisters, relatives, friends and church family who deeply loved her.

She is preceded in death by her grandparents Teone Wilson, Tennie Hackney, Willie Foster, son Leroy  Thomas, Mother Bythan Foster, Father Elder Nathaniel Foster, Beloved husband Bennie Shepherd, four brothers Nathaniel Foster, Ardell Foster, Robert Foster and Napoleon Foster, one sister Tennie Cottle, and one Great-grandchild Londyn McFarland.

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