There are approximately 8,500 graves in Shepherd Memorial Park.
The land for Shepherd Memorial Park was the old Gourley property and later the Smith property.
Shepherd Memorial Park simply expanded upon one of the county’s historic family cemeteries.
Shepherd Memorial Park was established in 1954 by William Shepherd with Thos. Shepherd & Sons Funeral Directors as Henderson County’s first public, non-sectarian, perpetual care cemetery.
The historic Gourley-Smith Family Cemetery, with the grave of Revolutionary War Patriot Hugh Gourley, is located within the cemetery.
Ten men from Henderson County who died in the Vietnam War have grave sites within Shepherd Memorial Park.
Army Sgt. James Daniel Bailey served with Charlie Co., 2nd Battalion, 12th Cavalry, 1st Cavalry Division. He died Jan. 17, 1969, in Binh Long.
Air Force Sgt. Robert Lamar Johnson died Jan. 25, 1970, of injuries in an accident at Kien Phong.
Navy Lt. Richard Bryan Lineberry was a fixed wing pilot. He died Sept. 27, 1972, at Quang Nam when his fighter crashed.
Army Sgt. Bobby Dean Lively served with the 4th Cavalry, 25th Infantry Division. He died Aug. 7, 1967, of multiple fragmentation wounds at Hua Nghia.
Army Warrant Officer Gary R. Mason served with the Army Reserve. He died Sept. 14, 1969, in a helicopter crash at Pleiku.
Army Sgt. James P. Morgan served with the 1st Infantry Division. He died March 11, 1966, from multiple fragmentation wounds.
Marine Pfc. Roy Edward Pitts served with G Co. 2nd Battalion 9th Marines 3rd Division. He was killed in action Feb. 17, 1969, from small arms fire at Quang Tri. He was awarded the Navy Cross, posthumously, for saving the life of a fellow Marine, for “his courage, selfless concern for his fellow man and unwavering devotion to duty in the face of grave personal danger.”
Army Cpl. Paul Robert Stepp Jr. served with the 1st Cavalry Division. He died March 29, 1970, of multiple fragmentation wounds at Tay Ninh.
Army Cpl. Billy Lewis Strickland served with the 1st Field Force. He was killed in action Jan. 24, 1968, from small arms fire in Quang Tri.
Army Spc. James S. Warren served with the 25th Infantry Division. He was killed in action Feb. 23, 1969, from small arms fire at Tay Ninh.
Also buried in the cemetery are:
Robert Patterson Freeman (1875-1974) who served as Henderson County Sheriff from 1907 to 1908. He operated R.P. Freeman General Merchandise, a general store, on the corner of Seventh Avenue East and Locust Street.
Joseph (John) Wilson McCarson (1871-1916) served as Hendersonville Police Chief from 1909-10 and 1912 to 1915. He remained a policeman after his terms as police chief (served two different terms). His grave was re-located to Shepherd Memorial Park.
Milas Monroe Shepherd (1867-1929) was mayor of Hendersonville from 1913-1915. He was also a merchant in Hendersonville. His grave was moved from Oakdale Cemetery to Shepherd Memorial Park.