James Carlton Stephens

James Carlton Stephens, Sr., 89, husband of Patty Allred Van Pelt Stephens, of Isle of Palms, SC, went to be with the Lord on Thursday, December 30, 2010. The relatives and friends of James Stephens are invited to attend his Funeral Service on Saturday, January 1, 2011 in Sullivans Island Baptist Church at 11:00 a.m. Burial will be in Oak Lawn Cemetery, Fort Valley, GA  by Rooks Funeral Home on Sunday, January 2, 2011 at 2:00 p.m. Arrangements by J. HENRY STUHR MOUNT PLEASANT CHAPEL.  The family will receive friends at Sullivans Island Baptist Church on Saturday, January 1, 2011 from 10:00 a.m. until time of the service. Mr. Stephens was born on July 11, 1921 in Turner County, Georgia, the son of the late Dr. Lee Denmead Stephens and Mary Jane Harbin Stephens. A life long Baptist and ordained deacon, he attended Sullivan's Island Baptist Church where before his illness he led the Senior Men's Bible Study.  He attended high school in Ashburn, Georgia, graduating in 1938.  He earned his BS degree in science at Georgia State Teacher's College and his Masters degree at Peabody College of Vanderbilt University.  He was a science teacher and administrator in both public and private schools in Georgia and for 17 years was affiliated with Macmillan Publishers in the textbook division.  He served in the Army Medical Corps during World War II. While living in Fort Valley, Georgia, he was on the advisory board for Kay School for special needs children, active in the American Legion and a Mason. Mr. Stephens was first married to Helone Elizabeth Willis, his high school sweetheart.  She preceded him in death in 1973.  He subsequently was married to Mary Frances Walton Willis who preceded him in death in 1980. Mr. Stephens is survived by his wife, Patty Allred Van Pelt Stephens; two sons, James Carlton Stephens, Jr. (Fran) and David Lee Stephens (Sally); one sister, Helen Smith and five grandchildren, Betsy Ruth Stephens, Daniel Dugan Stephens, Samuel Carlton Stephens, Joseph David Stephens and Michael Carlton Stephens.  He is also survived by a step-sons, Richard Van Pelt (Patsy) and John Willis (Denise); step-daughters, Paige Van Pelt, Cheryl Van Pelt Yancey (Michael), Tricia Willis Konzen (Dan) and Marcia Willis Johnson (Terry) and seven step-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his sisters, Pearl Adair, Bertha Lanneau and Wynnell Morgan, his brothers, Roy, Herbert, Hubert, J. Allen (Jake), L.D. Jr., and Harold and a step-daughter, Pamela Van Pelt Whigham. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorials be made to Sullivan's Island Baptist Church, 1753 Central Avenue, Sullivans Island, SC  29482.