David Bernard Shepherd

David Bernard Shepherd (Bernie) was born in New Amsterdam, Berbice Guyana on July 6,1945 to David E. Shepherd and Joyce McPherson Shepherd, grandson to Peter and Rose McPherson.

He spent his early childhood in New Amsterdam before moving to Vreed-en-Hoop West Coast Demerara. He then moved to Essequibo, followed by Buxton Village and finally to the capital city of Georgetown. Where he attended Tutorial Academy. After graduation and success in Senior Cambridge he began his career as a teacher, he taught biology and botany at Agricola Methodist school. David was a natural born teacher who loved to see his students succeed in their studies and in life. In 1966, he migrated to the USA to study at Howard University, his aim was to pursue a degree in medicine, but later switched to economics instead.

He met and married Eva Brown in 1969 and was the father to a step son with whom he had a great relationship. After graduating from Howard University, he held several jobs, but none in his field of study. With a strong background in mathematics, he went on to obtain a master's degree in computer science and fell in love with the programming aspect so much so that he ate, slept and talked everything "computer." In 1986, he landed his dream job with the United States Department of Agriculture as a programmer instructor. This job afforded him the opportunity to travel all over the globe to different U.S. embassies and working with various officers in the foreign service division of USDA.

David worked at this job for 20 years before retiring to home to become a "honey do." Honey can you do groceries or make some Bunjal curry or a cup of ginger tea? "No problem," he would say. He was a party man in his younger years and called himself "Sugar Foot," a name he said his father gave him, but when he was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease, he withdrew from public life because he was very conscious of the tremors caused by the disease. However, if you say "grocery shopping," he was ready to go. He loved to shop for groceries and would visit every aisle and buy something even though he had a list.

David had a wonderful sense of humor; he could laugh at himself and did so very often. He was humble, kind, patient and respectful. He never passed a stranger without interacting. He was the measure of a good man in my eyes. David was a unique person with a very distinctive voice and a peculiar way of speaking. He loved to talk, sometimes saying the quiet parts out loud; you would know when he was around, he spoke with great diction and would always say to me "Shep, you hear diction, man." He did not like the spotlight and if he had to be in the spotlight, he would say he needs a brace or "I have to take a little tup" referring to a shot of something. He did not like conflict and would give up his right to fight in order to avoid what he calls a ruction. He was content and lived the life he wanted so he will truly be missed.

David leaves his beloved wife, Eva, son, Garry, and grandchildren Renata, Garry Junior, Nathaniel and Sarah. He also leaves 12 sweet great grandchildren, baby sisters Barbara and Donna, sister-in-love Hazel, brother-in-law Joe, nieces Marteina and Melanie, nephews Alves(June), Philemon (Imani), Rawle, Roland and many others who affectionately referred to him as "Uncle David."

May his beautiful soul Rest In Peace.