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Rita Ann Shepherd Powell was born on July 17, 1942, in Selma, Arkansas to Joseph and Alberta Shepherd. She departed this life on September 14, 2026, at her home in Monticello, Arkansas.
Rita was joined in holy matrimony to Perry Powell, Jr. on July 17, 1982, until his departure on September 14, 2016. They had six children. Rita accepted Christ at an early age and was a lifelong member of Zion Hill Missionary Baptist Church, where she served faithfully as church mother until the failure of her health.
She received her General Education Degree from the Monticello Adult Education Center in Monticello, Arkansas and later completed courses in Business at Great Rivers Technical College in McGehee, Arkansas. Rita enjoyed cooking, spending time with family, watching Christian television, reading, and sharing words of wisdom.
Rita was preceded in death by her husband, Perry Powell, Jr.; her mother and father, Alberta and Joseph Shepherd; two sisters, Pecola Jones and Maggie Jefferson; and four brothers, Joseph Shepherd, Jr., Burt Shepherd, Herod (Jeff) Shepherd and Sam Todd (S.T.) Shepherd.
Rita leaves to cherish her memory, four daughters, Marilyn (Henry David) Simpson, Sherry Shepherd and Debra Shepherd all of Monticello and Jolene Shepherd of Conway; two sons, Jerry (Linda) Shepherd and Fredrick Shepherd both of Monticello; four sisters, Ruth (Dewey Lee) Broughton of New Edinburg, Mabel (Horace) Ridgell of Monticello, Barbara (Moses) Harris of Little Rock and Helen Trotter of Las Vegas, NV; two brothers, Phillip (Linda) Shepherd of Monticello and Elbert (Brenda) Shepherd of Little Rock; and her brother-in-law, William (Sheila) Powell of Monticello. She also leaves behind ten grandchildren, eleven great grandchildren, one great-great grandchild, along with a host of nieces, nephews, relatives and friends.
Funeral services will be 11:00 a.m. Saturday, September 26, 2026, at Zion Hill Missionary Baptist Church. Burial will follow in Selma Cemetery.
Rita was joined in holy matrimony to Perry Powell, Jr. on July 17, 1982, until his departure on September 14, 2016. They had six children. Rita accepted Christ at an early age and was a lifelong member of Zion Hill Missionary Baptist Church, where she served faithfully as church mother until the failure of her health.
She received her General Education Degree from the Monticello Adult Education Center in Monticello, Arkansas and later completed courses in Business at Great Rivers Technical College in McGehee, Arkansas. Rita enjoyed cooking, spending time with family, watching Christian television, reading, and sharing words of wisdom.
Rita was preceded in death by her husband, Perry Powell, Jr.; her mother and father, Alberta and Joseph Shepherd; two sisters, Pecola Jones and Maggie Jefferson; and four brothers, Joseph Shepherd, Jr., Burt Shepherd, Herod (Jeff) Shepherd and Sam Todd (S.T.) Shepherd.
Rita leaves to cherish her memory, four daughters, Marilyn (Henry David) Simpson, Sherry Shepherd and Debra Shepherd all of Monticello and Jolene Shepherd of Conway; two sons, Jerry (Linda) Shepherd and Fredrick Shepherd both of Monticello; four sisters, Ruth (Dewey Lee) Broughton of New Edinburg, Mabel (Horace) Ridgell of Monticello, Barbara (Moses) Harris of Little Rock and Helen Trotter of Las Vegas, NV; two brothers, Phillip (Linda) Shepherd of Monticello and Elbert (Brenda) Shepherd of Little Rock; and her brother-in-law, William (Sheila) Powell of Monticello. She also leaves behind ten grandchildren, eleven great grandchildren, one great-great grandchild, along with a host of nieces, nephews, relatives and friends.
Funeral services will be 11:00 a.m. Saturday, September 26, 2026, at Zion Hill Missionary Baptist Church. Burial will follow in Selma Cemetery.