- Collection:
- Atlanta Funeral Programs Collection
- Title:
- Resurrection and Homegoing Celebration for Willie Lamar Stephens, Saturday, May 6, 1995, 11:00 a.m., Ben Hill United Methodist Church, 2099 Fairburn Road, S.W., Atlanta, Georgia 30331, Rev. McCallister Hollins, Presiding Pastor, Rev. Dr. W.J. Stafford, Eulogist
- Contributor to Resource:
- African-American Historical and Genealogical Society (Washington, D.C.). Metro Atlanta Chapter
Wesley Chapel Genealogy Group - Date of Original:
- 1995-05-06
- Subject:
- African American men--Georgia--Atlanta--History--20th century
African Americans--Funeral customs and rites--Georgia--Atlanta--History--20th century
Funeral rites and ceremonies--Georgia--Atlanta---History--20th century
Funeral service--Georgia--Atlanta--History--20th century
Mourning customs--Georgia--Atlanta--History--20th century
African Americans--Georgia--Atlanta--Genealogy - Location:
- United States, Georgia, Fulton County, Atlanta, 33.749, -84.38798
- Medium:
- church records
programs (documents)
records (documents) - Type:
- Text
- Format:
- application/pdf
- Description:
- Funeral program for Willie Lamar Stephens. Birth date: February 9, 1939. Death date: February 17, 2015. Funeral date: February 23, 2015. Church: New Beginning Full Gospel Baptist Church (Decatur, Ga.). The Atlanta Funeral Programs Collection is a project of the Digital Library of Georgia in association with the Auburn Avenue Research Library on African-American Culture and History as part of Georgia HomePLACE. The project is supported with federal LSTA funds administered by the Institute of Museum and Library Services through the Georgia Public Library Service, a unit of the Board of Regents of the University System of Georgia.
- Local Identifier:
- Folder number: 736
- External Identifiers:
- Metadata URL:
- https://dlg.galileo.usg.edu/id:aarl_afpc_stephenswillielamar19950506
- Digital Object URL:
- https://dlg.galileo.usg.edu/do:aarl_afpc_stephenswillielamar19950506
- Language:
- eng
- Extent:
- 2 pages
- Holding Institution:
- Auburn Avenue Research Library on African-American Culture and History
- Rights:
-
ACKNOWLEDGMENT
Fi rst, let me thank the Lord, God Almighty, for Hi s many acts of kindness and mercies, on the union of this marriage"...What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder." (Matthew 19:6b KJV)
Now, let me thank you, Rev. McCallister Hollins, and the entire Ben Hill United Methodist Church family; you, Rev. Dr. W ]. Stafford, and the entire Free For All Deliverance Baptist Church. Many thanks also, relatives, friends, neighbors, coworkers, the Emory Hospital and Clinic, Hospice, Dawson Mortuary staff, and all others for agreeing to come together to help celebrate the resurrection and homegoing of this, thou beloved brethren, Willie Lamar Stephens.
"I jesus have sent mine angel to testify unto you these things in the churches. I am the root and the offspring of David, and the bright and morning star. And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely." (Revelations 22:16-17 KJV)
You are invited to come to the Welcome table of hospitality and partake in the feast of a charity dinner, at the Free For All Deliverance Baptist Church, 2218 Candler Road, next to the Rest Haven Cemetery, where Mr. Stephens will be laid to rest. "There is nothing better for a man, than that he should eat and drink, and that he should make his soul enjoy good in his labor. This also I saw, that it was f rom the hand of God." (Ecclesias tes 2:24 KJV)
The Stephens Family
FLOWER ATTENDEES
Delores Henry from Green Pastures Jewels and Partners Ladies from Free for All
Baptist Church
PALLBEARERS
Bobby Lindberg Marron Battle Henry Freeman Elvin Adams Moses Raines Paul Lockhart
HONORARY PALLBEARERS
Claude Light Willie Phillip
Will Willis
RESURRECTION AND HOMEGOING CELEBRATION
for
WILLIE LAMAR STEPHENS
Saturday, May 6, 1995 - 11:00 a.m. -
Ben Hill United Methodist Church 2099 Fairburn Road, S. W. Atlanta, Georgia 30331
Rev. McCallister Hollins, Presiding Pastor Rev. Dr. W. J. Stafford, Eulogist
Obituary of Willie Lamar Stephens...
Willie Lamar Stephens, son of the late Willie D. and Cora
Bell S. Stephens, was born on June 4, 1930. He made his transition on April30, 1995..
He grew up and was educated in Pickens County (Tate,
Georgia). He entered the United States Army and advanced to the rank of Sergeant-First Class and fought in the Korean conflict.
Willie joined Mt. Calvary Baptist Church, in Pickens County, at an early age. In 1969, he joined the Free For All Deliverance Baptist Church in Atlanta, Georgia.
In 1952, Willie was united in marriage to the former Barbara J. Trawick. Two children were born to this union: a son, Rickey, and a daughter, Sonja. .
On July 19, 1969, Willie was married to Annie Laura Haward. From this union two children were born, Michael Lamar and Adrienne Lakevia.
Willie was employed by the Ford Motor Company for 30 years
and 8 months. His job was in the area of Utility Relief
Willie was a people person. He served his community and
friends as a local electrician. He was known as "Steve, the TV
man." He was a man who liked to celebrate. He lived life to the fullest.
Willie leaves to cherish his memory, a devoted wife, Annie
Laura; two daughters, Sonja Stephens Terrell and Adrienne; two sons, Rickey and Michael Stephens; two grandchildren, Broderick O'Neal Howard and Stephanie Hope; one sister, Anne Marie Bateman; one brother, William Floyd Stephens; one aunt, Lucy Stephens of Cleveland, Ohio; one great-uncle, Lonnie Asby of Columbus, Ohio; devoted cousins, Steve Asby, Mr. and Mrs. Lorenzo Stephens, and Anne Wilson, all of Detroit, Michigan; Augusta Hicks of Columbus, Ohio; and many other special relatives and friends.
ORDER OF SERVICE
(Rev. McCallister ~ollins, Officiating)
PROCESSIONAL
HYMN OF CELEBRATION "What A Fellowship" No. 133
SCRIPTURE Old Testament
Psalms 122
Rev. Ronald Johnson
New Testament John 14:1-3, 6-7 Rev. J.Douglas Childers
PRAYER OF COMFORT
Rev. Leon Matthews
WORSHIP THROUGH MUSIC
The Majestic Choir
OBITUARY (To be read silently)
REMARKS
WORSHIP THROUGH MUSIC
The Majestic Choir
EULOGY
Rev. Dr. W J. Stafford
MEDLEY OF HYMNS
Mr. Jarvis Wilson
ACKNOWLEDGMENT
RECESSIONAL
In tennent Rest Haven Cemetery
Decatur, Georgia
Scripture Reflections...
Behold all souls are mine...therefore, I will judge you, oh house of Israel, every_one according to his ways, saith the Lord, God. Also, the wora of the Lord came unto me saying, Son of man, behold I take away from thee the desire of thine eyes with a stroke: yet neither sha(t thou mourn, nor weep, netther shall
- thy tears run dawn. For bear to cry, make no mourning for the
dead...and at even my wife died, and I did in the morning as I was commanded. (Ezekiel 24)
And He shall turn the hearts of the fathers to the children and the heart~ of the children to t~e f(ltliers, lest I come and smite the earth wtth a curse. (Malachz 4:5-6)
...For love is as strong as death: jealous is cruel as the
grave... ~any waters cannot quench love, neither can the floods
arawn lt.
Thou I speak with the tongue of men and angels an~ have not charity, I am nothing. Charity ~u.ff!reth long a'!d ts kind, thinketh no evil. Chanty never fazleth . . Naw,. abideth faith, hope, and charity, but the greatest of these ts chanty.
Finally, br~thrf!Z and sisters, be strong in the L.ord and
in the power of Hzs mzght. Prayzng always,~ all saznts and
for me that I may open my mouth and speak boldly as I ought to
speak.
For this cause I bow my_ knees unto the Father, our Lor~, Jesus Christ of whom the whole family_ in Heaven and earth ts named... to be strengthened with. might by His S~rit in the inner man that Chnst may dwellzn your hearts by Jazth.
Now unto Him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that
worketh is us.
Unto Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus through all ages, world without end...
In Jesus' Name, Annie Laura Stephens