Olivia Sheppard, a long time resident of Franklin, passed away Tuesday afternoon, June 14, 2011 in Northwest Hospital, Randallstown, Maryland, following a short illness.

She was the only child of William McKinley Robinson and Lutie (White) Robinson of Cleveland, Ohio. She was first married to James N. Drayton and in 1957 she married Gordon Sheppard who predeceased her in 1998.

Mrs. Sheppard was employed for many years by NYSEG, Oneonta. She was a member of NYSEG's Affirmative Action program and the NAACP and was awarded the Humanitarian Award at the State University of New York at Oneonta by the Hon. Thurgood Marshall.

Mrs. Sheppard will be remembered as an upbeat person, and as someone who always tried to do right. She was an accomplished pianist and enjoyed music and the theatre.

She is survived by her children, Nat Drayton, New York, NY; Donna (late Andre) Jackson, Lockport, NY; Darryl (Trina) Drayton, Merrickville, NY; Gregory (Constance Avery) Drayton, Holland Patent, NY; Terrance (Yvonne) Sheppard, Randallstown, MD; Mark Sheppard, Franklin, NY; Robin (Michael) Rideout, Randallstown, MD. Her step daughter Lorynda Sheppard-Hunt, Jersey City, NJ; 10 grandchildren, 4 step grandchildren, 7 great-grandchildren and a host of other family members and friends.

Friends and relatives are invited to call on Saturday afternoon, June 18, 2011 from 1 to 4 PM at the Kenneth L. Bennett Funeral Home, 425 Main St., Franklin. A Mass of the Resurrection will be held on Sunday afternoon at 3 PM at St. Paul's Episcopal Church, Franklin. Burial will be in Ouleout Cemetery, Franklin. It was Mrs. Sheppard's request that those attending the calling hours and the Mass at church wear colorful clothes and not wear black. Arrangements are under the direction of Courtney Funeral Home, Walton.