Hannah Shepherd

THERE was great sorrow across the district last Monday following the death of 19 year-old Hannah Shepherd.

Hannah, who has extended family in Clough, passed away in the Southern Area Hospice in Newry.

She was the daughter of Mr. Harry Shepherd and his wife Cynthia, née Mills.

Harry’s father, the late Robert Shepherd, served as a community police officer, attached to Downpatrick. He lived in Killyleagh with his wife Heather and family.

Cynthia is a daughter of Clifford and Edna Mills, of Church Grove, Clough, and has many relatives in the area.

In 2009, Hannah’s family received the devastating news that Hannah had developed a very rare form of cancer. Until then, she was just a normal happy schoolgirl at Markethill High School. Her favourite subjects were art and design so it was assumed her future would be in this area.

She was a loyal young member of Markethill Presbyterian Church and never missed morning services with her parents and brothers.

She was a member of the Sunday School and the Girls’ Brigade, which formed a guard of honour at her funeral.

At home, she loved helping her father on his suckler cow farm and although she was quite lithe, she would take on many tasks grown men would stay away from. She was really at home in the big farm tractor at which she was quite adept under her father’s supervision.

In her own short life, Hannah touched the lives of thousands.

There were many groups of people from all walks of life who offered support to her and her family through prayer as Hannah was a committed Christian. This was greatly appreciated by Hannah and her family.

As well as her parents, Hannah is survived by her brothers Sam and William, her nannie Shepherd, grandparents Clifford and Edna Mills, auntie Stephanie, uncle Colin, aunties Sandra and Jackie, auntie Karen and uncle Gordon, auntie Fiona, uncle Robert, uncle Philip, Patsy, auntie Wanda and families.

The funeral from her home at Daisyhill Farm to First Markethill Presbyterian Church (Upper) was held on Wednesday last week.

It was largely attended by many mourners travelling from all parts of Northern Ireland and from England.

The service was led by Rev. David Irvine and the ure was read by Mrs. Karen Cullen.

The hymns chosen by Hannah were In Christ Alone My Hope is Found and How Deep the Father’s Love for Us.

Donations in lieu of flowers are for the Northern Ireland Cancer Fund for Children and the Southern Area Hospice, payable to Jackson Stoops and Sons Funeral Directors, 44 Moy Road, Armagh, BT61 8DL.