By Beverly Belcher Woody
Peace Officers Memorial Day, observed each year on May 15th, honors federal, state, and local law enforcement officers who have died or been disabled in the line of duty. It is a solemn reminder that behind every badge is a son, a brother, a friend, and a neighbor whose life was devoted to serving others. This week we remember Patrick County Constable Robert “Bunyan” Sheppard, who was shot and killed in the line of duty on December 11, 1932. Next week, we will remember Patrick County Deputy Sheriff Walter W. Willis, who was also shot and killed in the line of duty on December 2, 1939.
Constable Bunyan Sheppard was the son of Robert Calvin Sheppard and Jennie Price Sheppard, who lived on Chestnut Avenue in Stuart. Robert Calvin Sheppard was a well-known merchant in downtown Stuart for nearly half a century. Born in Stokes County, North Carolina, on December 12, 1868, Robert Calvin Sheppard was the son of Calvin Lewis and Martha Forbis Sheppard. Before coming to Stuart in 1904, he and his father operated a store together in Stokes County.
Constable Sheppard grew up in a respected family and shared a close bond with his only brother, Reynold Calvin Sheppard, who later served as cashier of the People’s Bank in Stuart. The Sheppard family was deeply rooted in the life of Patrick County, and their sorrow in losing Bunyan would be felt for many years afterward.
The Martinsville Bulletin of December 13, 1932, reported that “R. Bunyan Sheppard, young Patrick County civil officer, was instantly killed” while attempting to arrest suspects driving an automobile that had reportedly been stolen from a garage near the Patrick County courthouse. Stuart Police Chief Joe W. Francis, who was with him, was seriously wounded during the attack.
The shooting took place several miles south of Stuart on the road to Mount Airy and the North Carolina state line. After overtaking the stolen automobile, the officers stepped out of their vehicle to make the arrests. As Constable Sheppard approached the car, gunfire suddenly erupted. Bunyan Sheppard was struck and killed instantly. Sergeant Francis rushed to aid his fallen companion and was shot twice while bending over the dying constable.
The stolen automobile had been confiscated earlier in a prohibition case and stored near the courthouse. According to newspaper accounts, the suspects had appeared in Stuart earlier that Saturday asking about bond arrangements for the vehicle before returning later that night and stealing it. Officers quickly gave chase, never imagining the tragedy that would unfold on a dark road near the state line.
In January of 1933, the Richmond Times-Dispatch reported that five men would stand trial in Patrick County for the murder of Constable Sheppard and the shooting of Sergeant Joe Francis. Newspaper accounts described a crowded courtroom in the old red brick courthouse in Stuart as the Commonwealth pursued justice for the slain officer. All five men were eventually convicted and served prison sentences for their roles in the crime. Yet it seems only fitting that their names fade into history while Bunyan Sheppard’s name continues to be remembered with honor.
Constable Sheppard was only twenty-nine years old when his life was taken. He was laid to rest in the Sheppard family plot in Stuart Cemetery, not far from the streets and hills he had sworn to protect.
Perhaps the most heartbreaking reminders of his loss were the memorial tributes placed in the Enterprise newspaper year after year by his grieving parents and brother. Long after the headlines had faded, the Sheppard family continued to publicly remember the son and brother they loved so dearly. One memorial, printed in the Enterprise on December 14, 1933, read:
“Our hearts still ache with sadness
Our eyes shed many unseen tears
No one knows how we miss you
At the end of one sad year.”
Another memorial appeared six years later in December of 1938:
“You are gone but not forgotten,
Fresh our love will always be
For as long as there is memory
We will always think of you.”
And still another tribute reflected the family’s enduring sorrow:
“Seven years ago today you left us.
Bunyan you know we love you so
as the days pass by we wonder
why it was you who had to go.”
Those simple words, written by a grieving mother, father, and brother, perhaps say more than any newspaper article ever could. They remind us that beyond the badge and beyond the headlines was a young man whose life mattered deeply to the people who loved him.
Today, nearly a century later, the story of Constable Robert “Bunyan” Sheppard still echoes through the hills of Patrick County. His sacrifice stands as a quiet testimony to duty, courage, and service. Though his life was tragically short, his memory has endured through the love of family, the records of our local newspapers, and the grateful remembrance of the community he served.
As we observe Peace Officers Memorial Day, may we pause to remember not only Bunyan Sheppard, but all those who have given their lives in service to others. Their names deserve to be spoken with reverence; their sacrifices are never forgotten.
For questions, comments, or story ideas, contact Woody at rockcastlecreek1@gmail.com or 276-692-9626.
