LELA T. STEVENS
July 27, 1915-Oct. 3, 2012
SNOW HILL -- Mrs. Lela Mae Taylor Stevens, 97, passed on to eternal life Wednesday, Oct. 3, 2012, at her home following a period of declining health.
Lela Mae was born July 27, 1915, the fifth child of Dallas and Loma Hollowell Taylor.
Her early education was in Greene County, graduating from Snow Hill High School in 1931. Her education continued at East Carolina Teachers' College, now East Carolina University, where she graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in education in 1935.
She began her teaching career at Newton Grove, where she taught from 1935 to 1936. She then taught elementary grades at Shine School from 1936 to 1955. "Miss Taylor" was a fixture at Shine School for these 19 years. She moved from the classroom, and served as elementary supervisor for Greene County Schools from 1955 to 1962.
Aug. 11, 1957, she married Joseph Alton Stevens of Grantham.
Aug. 26, 1962, a daughter, Mary Jo, was born to Lela Mae and Joe. She took a break from her education career to focus on her career as a mother.
In 1970, she returned to the classroom and taught fifth grade at West Greene School until her retirement in 1978.
Through the years, she has been actively involved in the following educational organizations: National Education Association, Classroom Teacher Association, North Carolina Education Association, Greene County Library Board, Neuse Regional Library Board, Delta Kappa Gamma, Omicron Chapter and Alpha Delta Kappa, Fidelis Xi Chapter.
Following retirement, she was instrumental in Reading Is Fundamental (RIF), providing books to primary and elementary children in Greene County for 21 years.
Lela Mae was also actively involved in her community. She was a charter member of Chapter 142, Order of the Eastern Star, and served in various roles for 50 years, and was also a member of the American Legion Ladies Auxiliary Post 94.
She had been a faithful member of Davis Grove Baptist Church for more than 75 years, joining this fellowship in 1929. She had served in various church roles, including Adult Sunday school teacher, Vacation Bible school director, Sunday school superintendent, Women's Missionary Union and choir.
Lela Mae has educated many generations of Greene County families, including her own daughter.
Her life exhibited tremendous Christian faith, patience and a passion for books and reading.
Funeral services will be held 7 p.m. Friday, Oct. 5, at Davis Grove Baptist Church, with the Rev. Steven Gay and the Rev. Doug Nalley officiating. Graveside committal services will be held 10 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 6, at Snow Hill Cemetery.
Surviving are her beloved family, daughter, Mary Jo Stevens Jones and husband, James; grandson, Joseph William "Josh" Jones; and granddaughter, Kathryn Lenore "Katie" Jones.
The family will receive friends Friday evening immediately following the service, and other times at the home of James and Mary Jo Jones, 533 Eden Church Road, Snow Hill.
The family would like to offer a special thanks, and acknowledge the kindness shown to Mrs. Stevens' by her faithful friends and caregivers, Brenda Dudley, Tiffany Graham, Rebecca Johnson, Tanisha Johnson, Hazel Wainwright and Ginger Vick, and also her primary physician, Dr. Doug Barrow.
Flowers are welcome or memorials may be made to Davis Grove Baptist Church, Building Fund, P.O. Box 533, Snow Hill, N.C., 28580.
Online condolences may be expressed at www.taylor-tyson.com.
(Pd)
Published in Obituaries on October 5, 2012 1:50 PM