Joseph Lawrence Stephens, Sr., 90, of Oxford, Ga., passed away on March 3, 2014 in Conyers, Ga. He was born in Roanoke, Va., on July 15, 1923, and graduated from Jefferson High School. He received his wings and commission as a Second Lieutenant in the USAAC in 1944 and retired from the USAF after 27 years active and reserve service. He was an alumnus of Roanoke College and Virginia Polytechnic Institute. He taught flying for six years at Southern Airways School in Bainbridge, Ga., and married Jean Hinson in December 1954. In 1958 they moved to Atlanta, Ga., where he became an air traffic controller with the FAA in the Atlanta Center. He retired from the FAA at Hampton, Ga., after 28 years. After 20 years of retirement in Ducktown, Tenn., they came to live with their daughter, Dr. Mary Stephens Malone, in Oxford, Ga. Mr. Stephens was raised in the Second Presbyterian Church of Roanoke, Va., and was a “cradle to grave Presbyterian,” having served as a Deacon and Elder in Georgia.
He was preceded in death by his parents, James Mills Stephens and Mabel Walton Harris Stephens; his sisters, Evelyn Foster Stephens and Margaret Stephens Ferguson; and his brother, James Harris Stephens.
Survivors include his wife of 59 years, Jean Hinson Stephens; daughters, Catherine (Rick) Rogers of Atlanta, Ga., Mary (John) Malone of Oxford, Ga.; son, Joseph (Anna) Stephens, Jr., of Yorktown, Va.; his sister, Emily (Jim) Mueller of Williamsburg, Va.; and sister-in-law, Phyllis (Harris) Stephens of Roanoke, Va.
A memorial service will be held at Gum Creek Presbyterian Church, 2700 Gum Creek Road, Oxford, Ga., at 11:30am on Saturday, March 15. Interment of cremated remains will follow at 2:00pm in the Memorial Garden at the Church of the Good Shepherd, 4140 Clark Street, S.W., Covington, Ga. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations to Gum Creek Presbyterian Church or the charity of your choice.
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