A ‘real good shepherd’ goes home
A ‘real good shepherd’ goes homeBy Carl FitzgeraldHow many times have I heard Anna Shepard's friendly, distinctive voice on the AT&T long distance line when she would be working her BellSouth telephone operator's shift and I would fortunately, get her as my long distance operator, and I can still hear her say now, "Mr. Bill Anderson, Mr. Carl Fitzgerald is calling you, sir, from Meridian, Mississippi ... He's on the line, can you talk to him now, Sir?" Her voice was so courteous, friendly and impressive, so professional, that Bill, like anyone else, would be "primed and ready" to talk to his party. She was one of the most professional telephone operators one could find. She loved her work. She truly loved people.Anna Shepard was one of my closest friends and she was like "family to me," for more than 60 years! Thelma and I saw her for the last time I believe, a few months ago at a local, downtown sandwich shop. Always the same "sweet Anna" but I could tell that her senior years were taking their toll, although I did not know that she had developed Parkinson's Disease with the last two to three years. She would never complain, and never mentioned her problem. I do regret that her apartment was not more than one block away from our apartment, "us neighbors" don't stay true to our raising these days, and we just get too busy, staying busy. I just had not visited "sweet Anna" like I should have. Like all of her friends, I was honored that Anna Shepard chose me to be her special friend in about 1946 or 1947. Her late husband, Al Shepard, (Shepard's Bicycle Shop) was the same way. I knew their boys, Alfred (deceased) and Billy. Our prayers go out to this family and their friends.In this modern world, there aren't "Anymore Annas around." Just ask Bud Robinson, Hank Florey, Jimmy Price, or Tony Douglas (from Texas). Anna was a supporter of, and worked with, the Jimmie Rodgers Memorial Festival (JRMF), and she started, when (we) started with festival cofounder James Skelton in 1972. It's ironic that James Skelton and Anna died on Dec. 30, one year apart. Anna worked in many areas but she spent most of her years in festival ticket sales. Anna is the precious lady who insisted strongly, encouraged me, as JRMF show producer, in 1974, to sign and bring in Tony Douglas and the "Shrimpers". Yes, she did ... and I did ... and Tony did. He came with his band and he appeared here at JRMF for a number of years at the Temple Theater concerts.I already miss Anna Shepard, a real, honest, "Good Shepard". I can see her now, already directing the heavenly, phone system. She suffered terrible tragedy in her life and family on two different occasions, but she's home now and free from all pain and suffering at age 83. Her services and special eulogy to Anna was conducted by her pastor, Dr. Raymon Leake, of Meridian's First Baptist Church. What a tribute he gave. Praise God, for her faithful friendship!Carl Fitzgerald is a Meridian, Mississippi historian and guest columnist of The Meridian Star.
