EDWARD CARLTON STEVENS
Nov. 21, 1951-May 11, 2016
The battle is over and the victory is won for Mr. Edward Carlton Stevens. Today, May 11, 2016, Carlton, as he was so affectionately known, slipped away into our loving Father's arms while surrounded by his loving wife and other family.
He has received his ultimate healing, and for that, God gets all the praise and glory.
Carlton will be missed, but his legacy of love will live on in the hearts and minds of all who loved him.
Carlton was born Nov. 21, 1951, to Joseph and Beatrice Stevens in Goldsboro, N.C.
He was reared in Goldsboro, and received his education in the Wayne County Public School System, graduating in 1969 from Dillard High School.
Following his graduation, Carlton joined the United States Army as an airborne Infantryman. He served two tours in Vietnam. Due to being injured during his first tour, Carlton reclassified to mortuary affairs to complete his second tour of duty.
Following the completion of his service to our country, he returned to North Carolina.
He then moved to Atlanta, Ga., to pursue his dream of being a funeral director and mortician at Gupton Jones Mortuary College.
Following graduation, Carlton relocated back to Goldsboro, N.C., to walk in his calling as a funeral director and mortician.
In 1974, while directing a funeral at Jerusalem Church in Seven Springs, N.C., Carlton met the soon-to-be love of his life, Carol Stevens.
The day following that funeral, he traveled back to Seven Springs to hopefully start his courtship, and three years later they were married. The two moved to Wilson, N.C., which had been his home for the past 41 years.
Carlton was preceded in death by his father and mother, Joseph and Beatrice Stevens, and one grandson, Carlton Stevens Jr.
He leaves to cherish his precious memories to his loving and dedicated wife, Carol Stevens of the home; one daughter, Audrea Nicole Rease of Atlanta, Ga.; two sons, Carlton Stevens Jr. and Maurice Stevens both of Wilson, N.C.; seven beautiful grandchildren in which he simply adored, Brittany Ruffin, Christian Fate, C.J. Stevens, Zorah Rease, Mia Stevens, Will Stevens and Jade Stevens; one loving sister, Marjorie Murphy of Orlando, Fla..; one brother, Joseph Stevens "Peter Rabbit" of Eustis, Fla.; and many other relatives and friends, including his adopted son and daughter, Kevin and Stephanie Lamb, and his adopted grandson, DeQualyn Dawson.
Homegoing services will be held Monday, May 16, 2016, at noon, and will be held at Contending for the Faith Church Ministries, 1006 Academy St., Wilson, N.C.
Carlton's mausoleum entombment will follow in Evergreen Memorial Gardens.
Sunday, May 15, 2016, there will be a viewing held at Stevens Funeral Home, 1820 Martin Luther King Jr. Pkwy., Wilson, N.C., beginning at 1 to 7 p.m.
Condolences may be posted at www.stevensfamilyfuneralhome.com or emailed to stevensfuneralhome3@gmail.com.
For any questions pertaining to the services of Mr. Stevens, please contact us at 252-991-5843 or his son, Carlton Jr., at 252-399-9716.
(Pd)
Published in Obituaries on May 13, 2016 1:48 PM