Obituary of Sr. Stephenson

Services for Mrs. Emmet Stephenson, Sr. of Bastrop, Louisiana will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday, June 19, 2010, at the First Baptist Church, Bastrop, Louisiana, with Rev. Jim Ingram and Dr. L.H. McCollough officiating. Burial will be in Memorial Park Cemetery under the direction of Golden Funeral Home of Bastrop. Viewing will be at the funeral home from 5 p.m. until 8 p.m. on Friday, June 18. Mrs. Stephenson died June 14, 2010, just 2 months after celebrating her 100th birthday. She received her education at Baskin High School where she was valedictorian and then graduated from Northwestern State University of Louisiana receiving a Bachelor of Science degree in Home Economics. Mrs. Stephenson taught school in Franklin and Natchitoches parishes after college. She was married to Emmet Stephenson, Sr. on September 15, 1935, and they shared a happy marriage for more than 60 years. She and her husband enjoyed traveling, having visited all 50 states and many foreign countries. She spoke fondly of their visits to the Australian outback, Russia, and the fjords of Norway. Mrs. Stephenson joined the First Baptist Church when she moved to Bastrop and was very active in church and civic affairs for more than 70 years. Mrs. Stephenson taught Sunday School for 27 years, led the Junior Royal Ambassadors, and served as Chair of the Women's Missionary Union. She was a choir mother, secretary and crafts director for Vacation Bible School, and co-led Training Union for high school and college students. In addition, she fulfilled such diverse roles as President of Potpouri, den mother for her son's Cub Scout Troop, and director of her daughter's 4-H Club at Eastside Elementary School. She enjoyed entertaining in her home, especially for guest speakers at the First Baptist Church. She loved to play bridge and loved her bridge club. As a true Steel Magnolia, Mrs. Stephenson was a refined lady of great strength and character. Her children remember her as witty and appreciated her as a wonderful cook, hostess, wife, mother, and grandmother. Her secrets to a long and healthy life included: no smoking, no alcohol, and a scheduled, disciplined lifestyle with three balanced meals each day. She was a true daughter of the South and lived in her own home until her death. Mrs. Stephenson was preceded in death by her husband, Emmet Stephenson, Sr., her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Richard Timothy Mock, five brothers, Horace, Leon, Bill, Harry, and RT, and an infant sister, known to her as Baby Sister. Survivors include one son, Emmet Stephenson, Jr., one daughter, Pamela Stephenson, 5 grandchildren, Cage, Todd, Chad, and Cara Godlewski and Tessa Stephenson, and 6 great grandchildren, Brittany, Payton, Cooper, Caleb, Anderson, and Braylon.