Amelia Gail Stephenson of Athens peacefully joined her late husband, Paul T. Stephenson, to be in the presence of the Lord on Saturday, June 2nd. She was the daughter of Cecile Lesseur Carter and Morris Carter. Amelia’s son and daughter-in-law Tom and Holly Stephenson, and their children Brad, Annie, and Camille; and other son, Doctor Todd Stephenson survive her. Amelia adored and cherished her three grandchildren and spent much time with them. She loved attending their school functions, social involvements, and actively participated in their lives. May 31st marked Paul and Amelia’s 60th wedding anniversary.
During her early years, Amelia was an eager and active member of the First Christian Disciples of Christ Church of Athens, participating fully in the life of the congregation. As a youth and teenager, she represented First Christian numerous times at the Disciples of Christ youth leadership conferences and rallies throughout the state of Georgia. In 1958, she married Paul and joined him at West End Baptist Church where she taught various levels of Sunday School, was a member of the Women’s Missionary Union, and worked alongside Paul in AWANA. Amelia served decades on the benevolence committee in conjunction with her work with the Athens Area Emergency Food Bank. In recent years, Amelia became a member of the Apalachee Chapter of the DAR and helped research her French Huguenot heritage in Oglethorpe County and Virginia. She was highly committed to history and education and valued its importance.
Amelia was a strong and knowledgeable businesswoman in Athens and retired after 45 years of service as executive assistant to the late T.C. Devore of DeVore and Johnson (D&J). In his memoir, “A Personal History: From Ninety-Six and Beyond” DeVore wrote that he could not have accomplished and reached as many goals without her help. She was so important and integral to the success of D&J that DeVore introduced one chapter of his book by detailing Amelia’s inauspicious beginning, her quick learning, faithfulness, and trustfulness that led to her knowing every facet of projects that he managed. He designated her his inside back-up person. In his own words, she was “the best.”
How well the community knows Amelia’s best qualities; she was a faithful, trusted, and honored woman, mother, grandmother, colleague, and friend. All who knew her will miss her immensely. Please join friends and family for visitation and fond memories of Amelia at Lord and Stephens, West, on Sunday June 10 from 5-7 p.m.
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