The Shepherd Family Legacy: A multi-generational impact

Most of us want to make an impact. Often, we’re not sure how to go about doing it.

With the desire to find a way to remember a loved one, two generations of the Shepherd family were able to memorialize a beloved daughter and sister and have a lasting impact on healthcare in their community.

Barbara “Bobbie” Shepherd, a nurse executive at Sentara Williamsburg Regional Medical Center, suffered severe injuries in a car accident in 2008. Minutes after first responders reached her, she was airlifted by the Nightingale Air Ambulance to Sentara Norfolk General Hospital, saving precious minutes.

The family, upon learning the news of the accident, immediately drove to be by Bobbie’s bedside, but the trip from Williamsburg to Norfolk took 60 minutes. They arrived with just enough time to say goodbye as Bobbie passed away Bobbie’s mom, Barbara Shepherd, would later say, “I’ve always been so grateful to the air ambulance service because it gave us the ‘gift of time’ to keep her alive just long enough to reach her bedside and say goodbye.”

Almost 10 years later, to honor the anniversary of Bobbie’s passing, a luncheon for Mrs. Shepherd and her son, Winston, was organized with many of Bobbie’s co-workers at Sentara Williamsburg Regional Medical Center. The sweet memories shared by the staff on the impact Bobbie had on each one of them was so meaningful, that following the lunch, Mrs. Shepherd decided to fund a scholarship in memory of her daughter.

Unfortunately, before she could implement the scholarship gift, Mrs. Shepherd passed away. Following his mother’s death, Winston Shepherd fulfilled her wish to honor his sister by making a gift to establish the Bobbie Shepherd Nursing Scholarship. He created the scholarship for nurses who want to continue their education and advance their certification at Sentara Williamsburg Regional Medical Center. It was the perfect way to remember not only his sister, but also honor his mother.

In addition, Winston began to explore other ways to increase his family’s impact through an estate gift to Sentara. By doing so, he became a member of the Sentara Legacy Society — a group of like-minded individuals who desire to give back to the community, well beyond their lifetime. Sentara honors these individuals on the wall of each of its 10 hospitals throughout the region. Winston decided to allocate a specific amount from his estate to Sentara to support the Bobbie Shepherd Nursing Scholarship.

In addition, Mr. Shepherd cited the Sentara Foundation as a “residual beneficiary” of his estate — meaning, once all debts, disbursements and expenses had been paid, the Sentara Foundation would receive the final balance of the estate.

Sadly, Winston passed away in 2021 after a lengthy illness. By then the portion of the estate to benefit nurses had grown to $2 million. This incredible legacy gift from the Shepherd family will support the nurses at Sentara Williamsburg Regional Medical Center in memory of Bobbie Shepherd for years to come.

Now, the Shepherd family – mother, sister and brother – and their generous demonstration of philanthropy, will be forever remembered through their legacy gift to the Sentara Foundation.

To learn more about leaving a legacy gift or to receive a FREE brochure, Planning for the Future, please contact us to chat with a member of our team!