Pat Shepherd of Newnan passed away at his home Feb. 4, 2012 after a yearlong battle with pancreatic cancer.
He was born in Griffin, Ga., Feb. 28, 1948 and was raised in Newnan. He graduated from Newnan High School in 1966 where he was salutatorian. He received his B.B.A. in Banking and Finance from the University of Georgia in 1970 and continued his education at the Louisiana State University Graduate School of Banking.
His career in the banking industry spanned over forty-eight years beginning when he was in high school. He served as vice president of Manufacturers National Bank of Newnan and First National Bank of Newnan. He next served as the vice president and senior lending officer for Peachtree National Bank and then was chief executive officer and president of Fayette County Bank in Peachtree City. In 1999 he was named director of The Bank of Georgia and at the time of his passing he served as the bank’s president and chief executive officer.
An avid outdoorsman, his love for hunting and fishing showed in his continual support for the national conservation group Ducks Unlimited. He spent over 30 years raising funds for and awareness of the organization, first in the Coweta County chapter and then in Fayette County, where he served as secretary/treasurer. In addition, he served as the State Treasurer of Georgia Ducks Unlimited. In 2011, the Fayette County chapter presented him with the Lifetime Achievement Award in recognition of his outstanding leadership and fund-raising efforts.
He served as a board member for Sales and Marketing of the Mid-West Georgia Homebuilders Association, was a member of the Community Bankers Association, and the Peachtree City Kiwanis Club. He supported the Boy Scouts of America, including service as the finance chair of the local chapter.
Mr. Shepherd is the son of the late Ira and Mary Shepherd of Newnan, and he is survived by his wife of 30 years, the former Connie Cunningham. Children include daughter Amy Tallent and husband Bob of Vonore, Tenn., son Pat IV and wife Brandie of Newnan, son Robert also of Newnan, and the late Jenny Whitlock of Turin. Grandchildren include Jonathan Strong; Bobby and Christian Tallent; Arysa Horn; Joshua, Noah, and Katie Whitlock. Other surviving family members include sisters Ann Smith and husband Bruce of Chattanooga, Tenn., and Susan Prosser and her husband Butch of Fayetteville.
Online condolences may be expressed to the family at www.mckoon.com.
Services will be held Wednesday, Feb. 8 at 11 a.m. at Dogwood Church in Tyrone. Visitation was held at McKoon Funeral Home in Newnan Tuesday, Feb. 7.
Pastor Keith Moore to officiate. Burial will follow at Oak Hill Cemetery.
The family is requesting donations, in lieu of flowers, may be made to Johns Hopkins University to aid in their pancreatic cancer research. Please send donations to Ralph H. Hruban, M.D., Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions 401 North Broadway, Weinberg 2242 Baltimore, Md. 21231-2410.
McKoon Funeral Home & Crematory 38 Jackson St. Newnan, Ga. 30263 – 770-253-4580.
