Tommy Henderson Hepler

Rev. Thomas “Tommy” Henderson Hepler, 94, of Leonard Road in Lexington, went to meet his Lord and Savior, with his family by his side on Friday January 2, 2026.

A funeral service will be held 2:00 pm Thursday January 8, 2026, at Leonard Road Baptist Church with Rev. Taylor Smith officiating services. Burial will follow at Forest Hill Memorial Park.

The family will receive friends from 6:00 to 8:00 Wednesday at Davidson Funeral Home.

Tommy was born November 28, 1931, in Davidson County to Harold Hepler and Rosie Mae Hepler Hepler. Preacher Hepler accepted his Lord and Savior on January 10, 1954, in the current church he pastored, Leonard Road Baptist Church, he founded in September 27th 1981. Preacher Hepler seen many people come to know Christ through his church services. He was a founding member of of a Missionary Board Bethel Baptist Mission, which is still going strong today. His church was able to fund multiple churches built across the country including full funding a church in Hati. Also, he led many souls to Christ through his 14 years of preaching in the North Carolina prison system. At 15 years old he decided to quit school in the 10th grade to help support his family. Knowing at 15 years old he could not work, so he told the company he was 18 years old. He was employed at Carolina Panel from 1947 to 1951 making 36 cent an hour. He then went to work at Lexington Chair Company at 19 years old working 4 years. In 1955, he told his wife he could make more money sitting on a stump. Preacher Hepler then opened his own business, Hepler Frame Works. April 19th 1955 was his first pay day at Hepler Frame Works., bringing home $458.00. Business was operated from April 19th 1955 to December 17th 1991. On September 27th 1981 he established Leonard Road Baptist Church and was there until January 2ns 2026. Preacher Hepler loved many things, first was God, then his family, church members and friends. He was very active in his church but also enjoyed fishing. He caught a catfish weighing 50 lbs. He also enjoyed going carp fishing with his grandson. He had a dear friend, Leonard Benson, they traveled to Surf City and caught 430 spots, cleaned them all at 4:30 am. In 1940 he played semipro baseball for Tyro where he was a pitcher and played shortstop. He had his own softball team by the name of “Hepler Frame Work”. He pitched softball until he was 65 years old.

He was a father figure to many. He had perfect attendance at Leonard Road Baptist Church for 3 years. He was contacted by multiple churches in the area to be their pastor, but he rejected, because Leonard Road Baptist Church was the perfect will of God for his life. In 1970 he filled in for many churches and was on the radio for 18 years.

He was self taught at 12 years old how to play the mandolin. He played Madoline for 80 years. He also played the Mandolin with the late Don and Earl. On January 10th 1954, Tommy Hepler received Christ as his savior. The first person he told was his mom Rosie. She told him if you are not careful you will be out running with those boys and be lost. Preachers reply “If I live to be over 100, I will never be lost again.. Tommy loved his church, loved preaching and sharing the word about his Lord and witnessed to all of Lexington about Jesus’s coming. He enjoyed singing and playing music in his church, just another way he found to serve his God. Tommy enjoyed life, an sharing the Bible, which he knew very well, but most of all he LOVED his God. Tommy was preceded in death by his parents; his wife Mildred Frances Tysinger Hepler; son Thomas Craig Hepler; daughter Legena Jarvis; three brothers, Harld Dale Hepler Jerry Hepler and Brad Hepler; and four sisters, Elizabeth Walser, Nancy Hemphill Carol Gobble and Mildred Dennis. Tommy was a true saint and will be missed by his family and the community.

Surviving is his son, James Howard “Buster” Hepler (Janice) of Lexington; his daughter, JonqulLynn “Jonnie” Sholtz (Roger Sr.) of Lexington; one brother, James David Hepler (Jan) of Lexington Roger Sr.); 6 grandchildren, Tommy Joe Hepler, Tracy James (Ryan), Misty Clark (David), Roger Sholtz Jr. (Erin), Harold Norman (Angelina) and Tiffany.10 great-grandchildren, and 15 great-grandchildren.

Memorials may be made to Leonard Road Baptist Church 574 Leonard Road, Lexington, NC 27295.