Barbara (Shepherd) Wilson, affectionately known to many as “Grandma”, went to be with the Lord on Friday, November 21, 2025. She entered this world on December 10th, 1933 in the community of Kinney Arkansas, the daughter of Clive and Lena Fay (Meadors) Shepherd.
Barbara resided in Fayetteville, Arkansas for 65 years where she attended Buckner Baptist Church every Sunday. She was faithful to her church and was always willing to volunteer with the Buckner Women’s Auxiliary.
At any gathering, whether it be at Buckner Baptist Church or at her home, she made sure that you never left hungry. You didn’t leave without enjoying coconut bread, cobblers or Barbara’s famous and delicious Chicken and Dumplings.
Barbara enjoyed caring for her grandchildren and great-grandchildren and helped in getting them to and from where they needed to be well into her 80’s. She also enjoyed helping at First Baptist Church of Elkins on Wednesday nights. She was well known at The Awanas Program, where her daughter and grandchildren were in attendance, for her salads that she chopped finely to feed people in the Elkins community.
Barbara enjoyed the outdoors. She kept an immaculate home. If you ever drove by her house, chances are you would see her working in her well kept yard or her huge garden but if the work was done, she could be seen sitting on her front porch waving as you drove by.
She was preceded in death by her husband, James Allen Wilson, her parents: Clive and Lena Fay (Meadors) Shepherd, a sister Lenora (Shepherd) Drummond and three nephews Rex Drummond, Don Drummond, and Randy Shepherd.
She was survived by her four children: Elaine and husband Gary Smith of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, Towana and husband Robert Lowrimore of Elkins, Arkansas, Roger and wife Jerri Wilson of Springdale, Arkansas and Ronald and wife Becky Wilson of Evansville, Indiana; her grandchildren: Ryan and (Melissa) Lowrimore, Colby Wilson, Ethan Wilson, Brian Brady, Cory and (Becky) Brady; great-grandchildren: Logan and (Madison) Lowrimore, Sydney Lowrimore, AJ Brady and Will Brady; great-great-grandchildren: Hudson Lowrimore, Sunday Lowrimore and Shepherd Lowrimore along with a host of family and friends.
The family will receive friends from 5-7 PM Monday, November 24, 2025 at Beard’s Funeral Chapel.
A celebration of life will be held at 10:00 AM Tuesday, November 25, 2025 at Buckner Baptist Church with Larry Mitchell and Gary Jewell officiating. Interment will follow in Brannon Cemetery in the Brannon Mountain Community.
Pallbearers will be Gary Smith, Robert Lowrimore, Ryan Lowrimore, Logan Lowrimore, Roger Wilson, Colby Wilson, Ethan Wilson, and Ronald Wilson.
Honorary pallbearers will be Eugene Shepherd, Truman Shepherd, Jimmy Don Shepherd, and Sharon Kay (Drummond) Gonzalez.
We would like to thank Washington Regional Hospice, specifically Jasmine, Alma and Melissa Lowrimore, Moms fulltime caregiver Karen Thomas, Willard Walker Hospice and all of the kind and loving people who willingly helped her through her journey home.
In lieu of flowers please donate to Gospel Rescue Mission, PO Box 405, Van Buren, AR 72957-9972, Willard Walker Hospice, 325 East Longview St, Fayetteville AR, 72703 or a charity of your choice.
She was such a wonderful person and best neighbor we were lucky to have known such a special lady
What a wonderful and special family. My teen years was growing up and living beside the Wilson’s. I always admired Barbara & James. They were always busy with lawn or garden. They had a special bond with mom and dad. You will be missed Barbara. ♥️
A wonderful cousin and always ready to greet you with a smile and hug, my prayers are with all the family ❤️
I’ve known Barbara for years and went to school with Elaine and Tawana. I knew the boys but they were younger at that time. Barbara and my mother were friends and talked on the phone every day. She was a wonderful person. RIP Barbara
Barbara was a good friend and neighbor. Went to school with the kids and to church with the family. I enjoyed her coconut bread and chicken abs dumplings. Heaven gained a angel. RIP Barbara. and Love to Elaine .Towana.Roger and Ronald. Love and prayers to y’all
In the summer of 1995 our family moved to a neighborhood on Tallgrass Drive. We were moving and two ladies from Buckner Baptist church, Barbara and Bernice , stopped and asked if our kids Kelli and Chase wanted to come to Vacation Bible School. We knew the Lord was calling us to do so. We went to VBS and fell in love with the people and after 30 years I’m still a member. I was able to remind Barbara just a few weeks ago as she was walking to her car, about her and Bernice inviting us to church. She and I both enjoyed the next few minutes as we both teared up we knew in our Hearts that the Lord was at work that summer day 30 years ago. One of the last things we did together was hanging a memorial picture of my son on the Christmas tree. She nudged me and asked me if I knew that man whose picture was now next to Chases. It was a picture of James Allen. What a sweet moment the Lord provided to us both.