Leon E. Sheppard, Sr., 79, of Memphis, TN passed away December 16, 2012. He is preceded in death by his wife, Lucinda P. Sheppard. He leaves 5 children: Marilyn Clark, Teri Craven, LeAnn Choi, Lonnie Sheppard and Tim Sheppard, all of Memphis. He also leaves behind 12 grandchildren and 6 great-grandchildren. Leon was born in Cherry Valley, AR in 1933 to the parents of Oliver Clyde and Elma Carolyn Sheppard. He is preceded in death by two siblings, Jimmy Sheppard and Jean Julian. Leon moved from Cherry Valley, AR in 1952 to Memphis, TN. Leon spent the past 18 years in retirement enjoying golf and time with family and friends. He retired in 1994 from United Food and Commercial Workers Local 1529, where he served as President since 1955. Leon dedicated his life to fighting for the rights of others. Although he was involved in many labor movements, here are just a few of the more notable labor movements: the 1958 Pic-Pac strike; in 1966 it was the terrible treatment of the Sanitary Workers which urged him to help. He helped organize the strike and even marched with Dr. Martin Luther King in 1968. In 1984 there was the Malone & Hyde strike; then in Indianola, MS, in 1990 he led a nationally publicized strike against Delta Pride Catfish. The strike involved all the workers at the plant where he fought for safety and better working conditions. However, it was known as the largest strike of African American Women in the United States. During many of these situations Leon made sure all members were taken care of and did not go without. He arranged the set-up of soup kitchens, so all members and their families where provided three meals a day. All members were furnished dry goods, all their bills, and by reaching out to other locals, he was able to make sure during Christmas that each member received at least 3 toys per child, along with a turkey, for their holiday. He never let his members go without, no matter the cost. When he started as President in 1955, there where about 400 members in his Local; at the time he retired he had over 12,000 members. For all of his dedications to the labor movement, the lives of many members of Local 1529 will forever be enriched. Leon was a huge supporter of Leukemia and Lymphoma Research, where he held golf tournaments to raise well over a million dollars to go towards the research. He was an avid University of Memphis supporter, where he was a season football/basketball tickets holder for decades. Leon touched the lives of many individuals. To many of his members, he was a hero. To his family, he was everything.

In lieu of flowers memorials can be made to the American Cancer Society, 1378 Union Avenue, Memphis, TN, 38014. Visitation will be 12 noon until service begins at 2 p.m. on Friday, December 21 at Forest Hill East Funeral with burial following.

Forest Hill East Funeral Home
901-382-1000