Dr. Moses M. Sheppard passed away unexpectedly Saturday, October 20, 2018. A memorial service to honor his life will be held at Jarvis Memorial Methodist Church in Greenville, North Carolina on Saturday November 3, 2018 at 11 AM. The family will receive friends following the service in the Taft Christian Life Center. Dr. Sheppard was born in Hendersonville, NC on September 5, 1928, and he was reared during the Great Depression on a farm in Moyock, NC with his two brothers and his sister. After graduating from Moyock High School, he joined the Merchant Marines at the end of World War II and then the US Army. He was an Honor Guard for President Harry S. Truman and later served in the Air Force Reserves. Moses graduated from East Carolina College with a BS Degree in Math and then earned a Masters Degree in Biology while teaching high-school science in Norfolk, VA. The consummate academician and educator, he always enjoyed working with his hands, too. During his time in Norfolk, he cultivated a large garden plot behind the house, built and fiber-glassed the bottoms of at least 3 16’ motor boats in his garage, enjoyed fishing, and learned to fly airplanes, a life-long hobby that he passed on to his son and grandson. In 1960, he moved his family to Columbus, OH and earned a PhD in Science Education with emphasis in Physics, from Ohio State University. He was a loyal Buckeye! Moses moved to Greenville, NC in 1963, becoming Professor of Science Education at East Carolina College. Moses’ career as an educator lasted for 39 years. During his tenure, he was awarded many grants from the National Science Foundation and loved to travel yearly doing research on solar eclipses. After his retirement from East Carolina University, he was named Professor Emeritus and inducted into College of Education Educators’ Hall of Fame. He pursued and enjoyed a second 20-year career as a general contractor, building houses. His friends, family, and neighbors knew him as a skilled farmer, raising vegetables and flowers. He was truly a renaissance man, excelling in all of his endeavors. He was active as Scoutmaster in the Boy scouts of America at St. James United Methodist Church where he also served on the Administrative Board and Board of Trustees. He later joined Jarvis Memorial United Methodist Church and has been a faithful member there for 26 years. Dr. Sheppard was preceded in death by his mother Alma Marslender Sheppard and father Moses Leonard Sheppard, oldest brother Robert Leonard Sheppard, sister Edna Sheppard Sanford, and first wife Patricia Williams Sheppard. He is survived by his wife Elizabeth (Lib) Holland Sheppard, brother Gerald Ray Sheppard and wife Sistie, his 2 sons Maurice Glen Sheppard and wife Jensina, John Leonard Sheppard and wife Kim. He has 6 grandchildren, Sarah Sheppard Shaver and husband David, Daniel Glen Sheppard and wife Julia, Diana Sheppard Huston and husband Phil, Rachel Sheppard Flemming and husband David, Christopher John Sheppard and wife Emily, and Michael Alan Sheppard and wife Katherine. He is also survived by 13 great grandchildren with one on the way. Moses is remembered with love by Lib’s children Frank Broadhurst Layne and wife Janice, and Ashley Layne Smith and husband David, and their children Zackery Broadhurst Layne, Blythe Katherine Layne, Layne Wesley Smith, Elizabeth Grace Smith, and Taylor Morgan Smith. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made towards the support of Science Education. Please send contributions to