Obituaries of Stephens Family, 1925-1949, Craighead County, AR ************************************************************************ Submitted by: Frances Minton Latoza Date: 16 Aug 2001 Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm ************************************************************************ Obituary of Joe Anderson Stephens Craighead County, AR Jonesboro Evening Sun December 29, 1949 REV. JOE A. STEPHENS OF BONO, FORMER MEMBER OF LEGISLATURE AND LEADER IN COUNTY AFFAIRS MAY YEARS, DIES Rev. Joe A. Stephens, prominent Craighead County leader for many years and once a member of the Arkansas Legislature, died in a Memphis hospital last night at 11:40. He was 78. Born November 28, 1871, on Bono, Route 2, Rev. Stephens had lived within a few miles of his birthplace all his life. He became ill several months ago. He was moved to Methodist Hospital in Memphis recently. Rev. Stephens was elected to the Legislature as a representative from Craighead in 1921. He ws re-elected in 1923. He also had served as state president of the Farmers Union Association. The deceased had played an important part in the improvement of the county's school system. He served on boards in his school district and for a time was on the County Board of Education. Elected a justice of the peace at the age of 18, Mr. Stephens began a half century of public life. He was elected a J.P. on numerous occasions. In the early part of the century, Rev. Stephens served as road commissioner for Craighead County. Ordained a minister in the Methodist Church, South, in 1905, Rev. Stephens spent the next 44 years preaching the gospel. He gave up his full time pastorates about ten years ago, but had answered numerous calls to fill pulpits in this area for special occasions. He had continued to conduct funeral services and perform marriage ceremonies. For the past five years he had preached once a month at Cross Roads Mission near Bono until he became ill in August. Rev. Stephens had been a Mason since 1902 and only this year had been voted a lifetime membership in the lodge. He was past master of Herndon Lodge No. 22, AF & AM. He was a member of the World Camp No. 180, serving as secretary of his camp at intervals during the past 30 years. He held that position at the time of his death. Rev. Stephens was the son of the late William Sims and Catherine A. (Sharp) Stephens. He married Miss Frances Cook August 13, 1892, and they established their home on a farm adjoining that of his parents. He lived there the rest of his life. In addition to his wife, he leaves two sons, Charles E. Stephens of Pontiac, Mich., and Clyde Stephens of Elgin, Ill; two daughters, Mrs. Quincy Coleman of Bono, Route 2 and Mrs. Alma Minton of Pontiac, Mich.; two sisters, Mrs. Katie Puckett of Bono, Route 2, and Mrs. Betty Ray of San Francisco; 17 grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren. Emerson and sons Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements, which are incomplete, pending arrival of survivors. ******************************** Obituary of John A. Stephens Jonesboro Evening Sun Craighead Co., AR March 9, 1925 JOHN A. STEPHENS, PROMINENT CITIZEN OF BONO, DIES John A. Stephens, aged 66, a resident of this county since early childhood, died at his home near Bono last night at 8:30 caused by illness of flu and pneumonia. The deceased was well known and highly esteemed over the county as one of the most progressive farmers of this section. He came to Craighead County when a small boy with his parents (William Sims and Catherine A. (Sharp) Stephens) from Tennessee. He had never married and had lived alone on his farm. The deceased leaves four brothers and three sisters: G. W. (George Wiley) and W. T. (William Thomas) Stephens of Western Arkansas, Rev. Joe A. Stephens of Bono, Jim S. Stephens of Jonesboro, Mrs. Jennie Patten and Mrs. Katty Puckett, and Mrs. Bettie Roy of California. The funeral will be held tomorrow afternoon at 2 o'clock and internment at the Trinity Cemetery. ********************************** Jonesboro Evening Sun Craighead Co., AR October, 1947 OBITUARY OF JAMES SAMPSON STEPHENS James Sampson Stephens was born April 24, 1878. He married Miss Carrie Adella Broadaway January 1st, 1899. To this union was born: Mrs. Ruth Winfrey of Truman, Ivah O. O'Brien of Jonesboro, Garnett Telken of St. Louis, MO, Paul Stephens of Atlanta, GA, Mrs. Jewel Doster of West Palm Beach, FL, and Ralph Stephens of Fayetteville, Ark., 13 grandchildren, two sisters, Mrs. Mary B. Roy, 441 25th Avenue, San Francisco, CA, Mrs. Kate Puckett of Bono, Ark., and one brother, Rev. Joe A. Stephens, Bono, Ark. He professed faith in Christ and joined the M. E. Church, South at Bono a few years after he was married and lived a loyal member until he departed this life at 6 PM, October 28, 1947. In addition to his family he leaves a hostof relatives and friends to mourn their loss. Submitted by: Frances Minton Latoza 5920 Warbler Drive Clarkston, MI 48346 Frances500@aol.com