MonticelloLive

Theirs is a story of love…with an unusual beginning. Donny and Felicia actually knew one another because he dated her cousin for a while. Then after they’d broken up, he ran into Felicia by chance on a Friday night cruising town. Felicia was a little mad at her old boyfriend on this particular night and wanted to “get at him”; so when Donny asked her to “ride around”, a 1980’s-small-town-teenage-pastime, she said yes. The rest, as they say, is history.

After Donny and Felicia had dated a couple of years, they decided to make it forever and get married July 4, 1986. Instead of a big ceremony with lots of onlookers and fanfare, the couple wanted to keep it simple, so they called the preacher and were married in his home. Then they called their families from the hotel room on their honeymoon. Twenty years and two kids later, they’re just as happy to be together and more in love than before. Their marriage has stood the test of time.

Donny joined the Army National Guard when he was just seventeen years old because he just knew that was what he wanted to do. Although he enjoyed it immensely because of the work and the people he got to know, he had no idea where this job would land him. It wasn’t until he was almost to the end of his career with the Guard that he was called up to serve at Camp Cook, Iraq in Operation Iraqi Freedom. He left in October of 2003, leaving behind Felicia and two teenage children, and did not return until March 2005. During this indescribable 18-month separation, Felicia says they were able to stay in touch through instant messaging online. He worked in an office setting overseas, taking care of supplies for the troops, and had internet access after he’d been there a few months. She would set her alarm and get up at 2:00 or 3:00 am just to steal away some time to chat with him online. It’s how they kept up with one another and stayed connected. Four or five times a week they could communicate this way. Felicia says this helped her cope with him being gone, along with her involvement in the Monticello Family Support Group, where she served as President. The group did fund raisers to send care packages to the troops and leaned on one another for understanding and support. It was encouraging for Felicia to be around others who were going through the same thing.

Married life is great for this couple. They have grown closer and closer and say it’s gotten better and better as the years go by. They lead a simple life, working hard and spending family time together. Attributing the success of their love story to God, Felicia says, “We have a really good marriage. He four-wheeler rides, I ride with him… honesty, respect, and trust made a good marriage. I think what makes the best marriage is having God come first and then your spouse second. If God’s not in it then you don’t have much of a marriage.” Donny agrees with her wholeheartedly.

Donny and Felicia Shepherd know what true love is. They experience it daily. They are… Together for life.