Sheppard, Dana Marie Boothe

Dana Marie Boothe Sheppard, 56, of Claytor Lake and formerly of Christiansburg, passed away peacefully at her home on Tuesday, November 21, 2006.

She was preceded in death by her father, Ernest Drape Boothe; her brother, Ernie Dwayne Booth; and her father-in-law and mother-in-law, Harmon W. and Celestia G. Sheppard. She will be remembered for her unselfish nature and always putting others before herself. She made the most of every moment of her life and enjoyed boating, jet skiing, playing blackjack in Vegas and she was an avid Virginia Tech football fan.

She was the owner of Credit Bureau Services since 1988 which she acquired from her mentor, the late George Beamer. She served on the Advisory Board of the First National Bank for many years. With a pioneering spirit she fought the odds in the male dominated industry of collections and eventually founded many organizations that promote the success of small and Woman Owned businesses. She was appointed to the Private Enterprise Commission under Governor George Allen 1997-1999.

She leaves to cherish her memory her husband, Jerry W. Sheppard; her mother, Elizabeth Ann Boothe; son and daughter-in-law, Tony Wayne and Tammy Altizer Sheppard; grandson, Ryan Scott Sheppard; sister and brother-in-law, Linda and Charles Jones; like a daughter and treasured friend, Kim McNeil; niece, Crystal Ann Lambert and her husband, Jimmy; special nephew, Ricky Vaught and his wife, Ann; special niece Tina Lawrence and her husband, Terry; aunt, Dean Quesenberry and her husband, Jimmy; brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law, Lynn and Evelyn Sheppard, Freda and Bobby Dempsey, Linda and Arwood Vaught, dearest friends Bill and Nell Massie and many friends too numerous to mention.

The family will receive friends from 5 to 8 p.m. Friday at the Horne Funeral Home. Funeral services will be conducted at 1 p.m. Saturday, November 25, 2006 at the Horne Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev. Neal Turner officiating. Interment will follow in Roselawn Memorial Gardens. The Sheppard Family is being served by Horne Funeral Service, Christiansburg, 382-2612. Online condolences may be sent by visiting www.hornefuneralservice.com