Atlas Shepherd Ponder, 85, of the Bethel community, went home to be with her Lord and Savior, Monday, December 29th surrounded by her family. She was born June 21, 1929, to the late Robert and Flora Hilemon Shepherd. She was preceded in death by sibilings, Cecil Shepherd, Leona Yelton, Maude Wilson, Pauline Chandler and Margie Ponder. She was also preceded in death by her beloved husband of 64 years, Robert Paul Ponder. Mrs. Ponder worked for many years as a seamstress for Kentown and Billie Kaye Apparel. She loved to garden and can and was a faithful member of Bethel Baptist Church.
She is survived by her daughter, Sharon Buckner and son-in-law Randy; granddaughter, Brandi and husband, Steven; grandson, Johnathon and wife Taylor; sisters, Ada Buckner and Jean Edwards; a brother, Charles Shepherd; and several nieces, nephews and friends.
A funeral service will be held at 2:00pm Thursday, January 1, 2014, at Bethel Baptist Church. Reverends Eddie Rice and Troy Rogers will officiate. Burial will follow in the Bethel Baptist Church Cemetery. The family will receive friends 6-8pm Wednesday, at Blue Ridge Funeral Service.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Bethel Baptist Church, c/o John Radford, 395 Shake Rag Road, Mars Hill, NC 28754, or Gideons International, Madison County Camp, PO Box 1182, Marshall, NC 28753.

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