Miranda Sheppard

Published 12:00 am Friday, March 5, 2010

Miranda Renee’ Sheppard, Age 13 of Clio died Wednesday , March 3, 2010 in the Children’s Hospital in Birmingham, Alabama
Funeral Services will be held Sunday, March 7, 2010 at 2:00 pm at the Calvary Assembly of God Church in Clio with Reverend Randy Adams and Reverend Darren Sheppard officiating. Burial will follow in the church cemetery with Dillard Funeral of Brundidge directing.
Visitation will be held at the church Saturday, March 6, 2010 from 5:00 pm until 7:00 pm. She will also lie-in-state at the church one hour prior to the service.
She is survived by her mother Sylvia Sheppard of Clio, Dad and Stepmother Jerry J. and DeeDee Sheppard of Ariton, brother B.J. Sheppard, stepbrother Jordan (Victora) Hurst, Step sisters Magan and Chalsea Hurst, Grandparents Liz Senn Clio, Tommie Jean Sheppard of Orlando, Many uncles and aunts.
She was a member or the Calvary Church and CCM puppet team.
Active pallbearers will be Jason Sasser, Burt Guy, Dewayne Riley, Brandon Adams, Stephen Murphy, and Josh Herring.
Honorary pallbearers will be L.K. and Peggy Adams.
Miranda was an inspiration to all. She had an amazing journey and I thank God he allowed me, her dad and B.J. to be a part of it. I recall meeting strangers and them commenting on how much she looked like an angel. Little did they know that’s just what she was. At age 3 she was diagnosed with a chronic lung disease called cystic fibrosis (cf). She battled this illness all of her life, but you would have never known how much pain she was in. She never complained. She loved life and praised God for everyday he gave her. If you were sick she would take care of you. In August of 2008 doctors said the only thing that would save her is a double lung transplant. Miranda, being the child of God she was prayed and told God if she was blessed with new lungs she would do everything to take care of them. After being on a bi-pap machine and ventilator for a month God blessed her with new lungs on May 14, 2008. When the doctor came out he told her dad and I that he didn’t know how she was still alive, as her lungs and heart were so full of inflammation that they had to pry her lungs out of her chest to put the new ones in. As Miranda wrote on her my-space page, “God wasn’t ready for me yet.” She added that God had more for her too, and she did just that. She was and still is a light that shines for Jesus. She lived life. She had a smile that would capture your heart, she talked with her hands, loved to dance, sing, and take silly pictures. Her goal was to become a nurse to help kids like her and work at Children’s Hospital in Birmingham on 5 Tower with her home away from home family. Although she did not reach that goal, I told her she was an amazing teacher. She has taught many people strength, compassion, love, and faith. Her faith in God and what he could do never wavered, even on the very bad days. In her final days, she wrote “God said I will live.” She was right. Our hearts are heavy and our eyes filled with tears, but Miranda will forever live. She is looking down saying please don’t cry for me. I’m dancing with Jesus on the golden streets of heaven.
Miranda Sheppard
M is for miracle
I is for incredible
R is for really brave
A is for awesome
N is never giving up
D is for Daddy’s little girl
A is for always fighting
S is for special
H is for hero
E is for everybody loves her
P is for priceless
P is for precious
A is for an angel
R is for ready to fly
D is for destination: Heaven
Please visit our website at www.dillardfh.com to sign the guestbook.

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