Pauline Rice Sheppard

Family will receive friends on Thursday, June 4th, 2026 at 9:30 a.m. until time of service at 11:00 a.m. at Mt. Vernon A.M.E., 1127 Mt. Vernon Avenue, Columbus, OH 43203. Interment: Eastlawn Cemetery.

Pauline Rice Sheppard was born Pauline Rice on May 8, 1937, in Buffalo, N.Y.  She was the youngest of 11 children born to Colie James Rice and Lillar (Lil) Counts Rice.

She attended East High School, The Ohio State University (OSU) and was member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated.

Pauline was a longtime educator and taught elementary and middle school. She was a teacher for Columbus Public Schools for over 32 years and taught at Stockbridge Elementary School, Barrett Middle School and Southmoor Middle School.

She was also a longtime member of Mount Vernon AME Church.

Pauline was preceded in death by her parents, Colie Sr. and Lil; the parents who raised her, Lizzie Rice Taylor and Willie Taylor.

Pauline leaves to cherish and honor her memory and carry on her legacy, daughters Mary Frances (Ron) Sheppard Jones, Starla (Bernard) Muhammad; grandchildren, Tyler (Betsey) Sheppard; Yusef Muhammad, Aliyah Anna-Pauline Jones and great-grand daughter Lila Grace Sheppard. She is also survived by her sister-in-law Dr. Donna Rice, her cousin Hattie Mae Heller and a host of nieces, nephews and cousins.  

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Pauline Rice Sheppard, please visit our floral store.