DeVeta Elaine Aiken, Hartis, Shepard, 73, of Wilmington, NC, died on January 14, 2026, in Stanardsville, VA. She was born on October 4th, 1952, to Josephine Winters and Woodrow Wilson Aiken, US Navy QMCS, in Wilmington, NC.

She was preceded in death by Woodrow Aiken, Josephine Winters, Harold Henderson Hartis, and brother Darrell Henderson Hartis.

She was raised by her mother and her stepfather Harold Hartis in Salisbury, NC and took his name. She attended the University of Wisconsin prior to graduation from UNC. While she was in North Carolina, she took part in ghost busting activities as well as Mensa-like activities.

She was a Political Science graduate of the University of North Carolina [UNC] (1973), a licensed Realtor, the manager of an up-scale neighborhood club located in an up-scale housing development in the Chapel Hill/Durham, NC area, a Championship Ballroom Dancer, and a wonderful wife. In addition, her decorating skills were beyond compare. When she was helping Bob redecorate a townhouse in Cary, NC, she announced that “white” is not a color! She loved Bob’s children from a previous marriage.

DeVeta competed in Smooth and Latin international ballroom dancing in Miami, Raleigh, Montreal, New Orleans, Atlanta, and Washington DC. She opened a ballroom dance school in Charlottesville, VA producing two professional dancers who competed internationally.

She was blessed with an IQ of 152, which was quite imposing to many people, mainly men, but a blessing to her husband. She was married on October 4th, 1986, to Robert (Bob) M. Shepard, Jr., in Raleigh, NC after two years of dating and engagement. She was Bob’s friend, companion, helpmate, wife, lover, and mostly his alter ego. She was not his first love, but rather his team-mate and loyal partner. The pair were both late-bloomers, ugly ducklings at an early stage, so-called skinny-minnies, and compatible matches. They laughed at the same things and had similar values, and they both knew their limitations.

DeVeta and her husband, a Nuclear Engineer, completely renovated an 1892 Queen Anne Victorian home and grounds. She personally cleaned/restored 16 previously hand faux-painted doors, soot-covered due to the previous occupants burning coal in the fireplaces. She also hand painted the details required on various inside and outside items, such as front-porch decorative items and managed the over-all renovation of the home while Bob took care of the big items when not consulting.

The last few years she suffered from various issues, which included bone-on-bone in her back, and had to deal with the lack of pain medication due to health issues including the anti-opioid frenzy while possessing the best health insurance [Tricare and Medicare]. She asked Bob to help her go but he opted to keep her comfortable. She was in the care of the Hospice of the Piedmont in Charlottesville, VA, at the time of her death.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made in memory of DeVeta to the Hospice of the Piedmont, 675 Peter Jefferson Pkwy, Suite 300, Charlottesville, VA 22911, hopva.org/donate-online-now

At her request, there will be no service or flowers. She will be cremated and buried with Bob in the same burial plot at the appropriate time.

An online guestbook is available at www.compassionatecremationva.com

Compassionate Cremation Services of Ruckersville, VA is handling the arrangements.