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 10, 1933, in the community of Kinney, Ark., the daughter of Clive and Lena Fay (Meadors) Shepherd.
Barbara resided in Fayetteville 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 two nephews: Rex Drummond and Don Drummond.
She was survived by her four children: Elaine and husband, Gary Smith, of Baton Rouge, La., Towana and husband, Robert Lowrimore, of Elkins, Ark., Roger and wife, Jerri Wilson, of Springdale, Ark., and Ronald and wife, Becky Wilson, of Evansville, Ind.; her grandchildren, Ryan and (Melissa) Lowrimore, Colby Wilson, Ethan Wilson, Brian Brady, Cory and (Becky) Brady; great-grandchildren, Logan and (Madison) Lowrimore, Sydney Lowrimore, A.J. 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 p.m. Monday, November 24, 2025, at Beard’s Funeral Chapel.
A celebration of life will be held at 10 a.m. 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.
We would like to thank Washington Regional Hospice, specifically Jasmine, Alma, and Melissa Lowrimore, Mom’s full-time 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, P.O. Box 405, Van Buren, Ark., 72957-9972, Willard Walker Hospice, 325 East Longview St., Fayetteville, Ark., 72703, or a charity of your choice.
Condolences at: www. beardsfuneralchapel.com.