Sandra Kay Sheppard Belshan

Sandra Kay Sheppard Belshan, 78, died peacefully on May 27, 2024. Sandra was born to Mildred Evans Sheppard and Charles Elwood Sheppard on September 19, 1945, in Norfolk, VA. She graduated from Homer L. Ferguson High School. She was an active member and held several offices in the Future Homemakers of America, including the presidency of the Peninsula region and the state association. She also served with Future Teachers of America.

After graduating from Madison College with a degree in Home Economics, she fulfilled her high school aspirations by becoming a teacher, teaching at Virginia Beach schools, Home Economics at Marshall Junior High and Fauquier High School, and English to soldiers at Vint Hill Farms Station. For her second act, she served as the Director of Food Services for Surry and later Prince George counties. In this role, she led the transition of each school district to electronic systems, implementing student accounts with online access, cards to swipe at registers, and inventory/point-of-sale systems. She was a hands-on leader who loved her staff and was beloved by many.

In her home life, she was famous for baking Sandy rolls, gardening and canning, hosting large Thanksgiving meals, love and generosity to family and friends, sewing and cross stitch, adventurous trips with dad and family to places like the Blue Ridge Mountains, Emerald Isle, Dollywood, Ghost Town in the Sky (an abandoned wild west amusement park), maple festivals, New Orleans river boats, and the Grand Canyon. She was affectionately known as the "sock fairy" who magically refilled the family's dressers without detection or complaint. She also actively attended Oakland Baptist Church for many years, regularly playing the piano for times of worship.

Sandra was preceded in death by her husband of nearly 52 years, James Edward Belshan; and her sister, JoAnn Sheppard More. She is survived by children, Christina Elaine Belshan Bishop (Cecil), James Lee Belshan (Josie, who is deceased), and Kathryn Leigh Belshan Parker (Jonathan); eight grandchildren; brother, Charlie Sheppard (Brenda); sister, Susan Neely (Bob); and numerous cousins, nieces, and nephews.

A funeral service will be conducted at 2:00 pm, on Friday, June 7, 2024, at the Chester Chapel of J.T. Morriss & Son Funeral Home, with Pastor Jerry Parker, officiating. The family will receive friends for one hour prior to the service.