Femina “Femmie” Eijpen Shepherd, 83, died of a stroke at her home in the Savannah Cane Crossing area of Sumter County on Feb 6, 2025. Born in 1941 during the Nazi occupation of Amsterdam, her early years were hard. She graduated from public school and began her lifelong interest in fashion and beauty through modeling lessons and training as a tailor. It was her dream to become a fashion designer.

Instead, she married an American airman, Thomas Shepherd. After living in Germany, Oklahoma, England, Florida, and at Shaw Air Force Base, she and her family settled in Columbia. She worked as a seamstress at Lisbeth Wolfe of Richland Mall. This gave her the chance to study the fashions and design her own at home. She sold cosmetics for many years at Tapp’s, Belks’, Macy’s, and Dillard’s. She also began her own fashion belt business “Designs by Femme.” She went back to school and became one of Columbia’s first estheticians. Over 30 years of taking care of her clients provided her with a huge number of friends and acquaintances.

True to her heritage, Femmie was an example of the Dutch traits: hard working, frugal, practical, direct, honest, and most importantly, gezellig. English does not have an exact translation, but anyone who really knew her would understand. It is a state of mind/being. Sociable, funny, pleasant, and warm describe it best.

Though she was still seeing clients every other Saturday, her life was not just about work. She loved her vacations with her daughters at North Myrtle Beach and Sanibel Island, Florida. Besides collecting shells, she enjoyed reading and taking care of her indoor and outdoor plants, particularly the figs and blueberries. Her loving dog Mischa and her chicken coop with 15-20 laying hens were sources of pride.

Femmie was predeceased by her parents, Petrus and Elizabet Kroezen Eijpen, and her brother, Pieter Eijpen. She is survived by her husband, Gene Spann; her daughters, Nanette Shepherd, Linda Shepherd (Steve Riha), and Debbie Byrd; her grandchildren Ashley Riha Saunders, and Bryan and Benjamin Byrd; and great-grandchildren Lilly Anne Byrd and Bryson Byrd.

Family will receive friends at 4 p.m. with a memorial service to follow at 5:30 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 21, 2025 at Woodridge Memorial Park and Funeral Home, 138 Corley Mill Road, Lexington, S.C. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the ASPCA.