Bess Sheppard Poole

Bess Sheppard Poole passed away on October 7, 2018 at the age of 94.

She was born on June 4, 1924 to the late Arthur and Florine Sheppard. She spent her growing up years in Waynesboro, Georgia and she talked often of the happiness and security of those years. Her father owned a movie theater and she kept on loving movies all her life. After graduating from high school, she went to Agnes Scott College during the World War II years graduating in 1945.

She then worked in the medical school at Emory University. It was there that she met and fell in love with Sam Poole, MD. Sam finished his medical training and served in the Medical Corp. in the Korean War (1951-1953).  In 1955 they moved to Gainesville for Sam to join Dr. Henry Jennings in the practice of Internal Medicine. Dr. Dick Stribling and Dr. Jim Butts joined them, and they later founded the Northeast Georgia Diagnostic Clinic in 1972.

The Gainesville years were happy ones. Life was busy. Bess did the usual volunteer and social club route: garden clubs, study clubs, Junior League, art center, hospital auxiliary, schools, and much more. She and Sam were devoted members of the First Baptist Church and a lot of time was given there teaching Sunday School, Bible School and committee work. She loved teaching citizenship in the church’s ministry to immigrants. The closest thing to her heart was the Good News Clinic, where she most recently served as co-chairman, with Anne Thomas, of the Endowment Campaign from 2012-2016.

Along with her parents, Bess was preceded in death by her husband of 56 years Dr. Sam Poole and her son Sam Poole II.

She is survived by her daughter and son-in-law Julie Poole Knotts and husband Dan Knotts; daughter Ellen Poole; daughter-in-law Virginia Maguire Poole; six grandchildren Carrie Knotts McDowell (Robert), Taylor Knotts Peña (Juan), Dan W. Knotts, Benjamin Norris (Angela), Sam Poole III (Holly), Jennifer Poole Blazier (Dan); three great-grandchildren James McDowell, Alexander McDowell, and Henry Peña; two sister-in-laws Marguerite Sheppard and Shirley Sheppard and numerous nieces and nephews.

A Celebration of Life Service will be held at 2:00 pm on October 19, 2018 in the chapel of the First Baptist Church. The family will receive friends from 12:00 – 2:00pm on Friday, October 19, 2018 in the banquet hall of First Baptist Church.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the Good News Clinics, 810 Pine Street, Gainesville, Georgia 30501.

Online condolences can be made at www.memorialparkfuneralhomes.com. Memorial Park North Riverside Chapel, 989 Riverside Drive, Gainesville, Georgia 30501. 770-297-6200.