:J{ower 13earers J{onorary :J{ower 13earers Members of The Lilla Sellers Missionary Circle Members of Deaconess Board Ministry West Hunter Street Baptist Church West Hunter Street Baptist Church Ta{{bearers Deacons of West Hunter Street Baptist Church Johnny Cowan Phillip Jackson, Jr. Wilkie Jordan Wallace G. Mapp, Jr. Charles 0. Swain, Sr. lsiah Woodard J{onorary Ta{{bearers Dr. Walter D. Branch Dr. Wiley S. Bolden Dr. William Camp Dr. James F. Densler Mr. Lorenza Fisher, Jr. Mr. Henry Harris, Jr. Dr. Ezekiel L. Kennedy Mr.Thurmon Wilson Members of the Boards of Deacons and Trustees West Hunter Street Baptist Church .Jtcknowfedgement Your outpouring of love humbles the family of Vernon Wayland Stone. We appreciate your sympathetic kindness. May God grant you his richest blessings. ~tc@:V ~llers ~rnilfrs, ~nr. FUNERAL DIRECTORS &MORTICIANS 889 M. L. King, Jr. Drive, N.W. Atlanta, Georgia 30314 923 McDaniel Street, S.W. Atlanta, Georgia 30310 404-522-6924 404-522-2591 MKO Graphics & Printer$, Inc. (404) 523-1560 Ce{ebrating tlie Life of 'Vernon Way{andStone Wednesday, October 13, 2004 - - 12:00 Noon- VVest J{unter Street 13aytist Cfiurcfi 1040 Ralph David Abernathy Boulevard, Southwest Atlanta, Georgia The Reverend Harold C. Turner, Officiating Dr. T. J. Anderson, Eulogist Obituary Vernon Wayland Stone, Professor Emeritus of Georgia State University, was the third son born to Jefferson Garrett Stone and Ethel Marie Anderson Stone in Cincinnati, Ohio on February 9, 1915. His wonderful sharing and nurturing spirit was a part of his family role as a devoted husband for forty-nine years to Juanita Sellers Stone. He was a supporting and doting father to Joy and Keith. Early in life, Vernon demonstrated unusual academic acumen. He graduated from Sycamore High School as Valedictorian, but was not awarded the honor at the commencement because of his race. This action motivated a persistent pursuit of excellence. During a class reunion more than thirty years later, he was recognized and received a belated apology. Vernon completed undergraduate work at the University of Chicago and continued studies, earning the Master of Arts degree , as well as, completing all requirements for the Ph.D. Later, he received a Ph.D. from the University of California, Berkley. His academic pursuit continued as he earned the MBA Degree from Harvard University. During World War II, Vernon joined the United States Army and was selected as a candidate for the Officer's Candidate School. Upon completion , he obtained the rank of First Lieutenant. After a distinguished career in the service, he was selected by the U.S. State Department serving as an assistant to Dr. Ralph Bunche, United Nations Peacemaker, in the country, formerly known as Palestine. Again, he had the opportunity to expand his horizon by being appointed as the Head Court Reporter at the Nuremberg War Crime Trials in Nuremberg, Germany. The College level teaching of Vernon spans more than forty years. He served on the faculty at Savannah State College, Florida A & M University, Ricker College, Houlton, Maine, University of Maryland, Eastern Shore and was the first black, full Professor at Georgia State University. He served his students with unwavering commitment at each institution. Vernon was honored with many awards and recognitions for his accomplishments and services. Among them are The Honorary Degree, Doctor of Letters bestowed by the University of Maryland, Eastern Shore and the prestigious Alumni Distinguished Professor Award by Georgia State University. He was an accomplished pianist who enjoyed writing and painting. He was a member of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. As an active member of the West Hunter Street Baptist Church since 1970, his favorite outreach was sending the Sunday Bulletin to the sick and shut-in each week. Recognition of his outstanding academic achievements and his many skills and talents helps us to appreciate the warm, personal interest and unconditional love which he extended to his family, friends and students. We treasure this legacy. Vernon is survived by his wife , Juanita Sellers Stone; daughter, Joy Stone Tillison (Tony); son, Mr. and Mrs. Keith Garrett Stone (Lisa); grandchildren, Keilaya, Alesia and Andrew Stone; Tal, Taj, Tyler, Toni and Taryn Tillison; siblings, Anna Marie Tillman, Oakland, California, Margene Stone Dumas, Hayward, California, Juanita Stone, San Francisco, California, and Mr. And Mrs. Donald Stone (Mary) Vallejo, California; numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins including, Dr. and Mrs. T. J. Anderson (Lois) of Chapel Hill, North Carolina. I shall pass through this world but once, If therefore, there be any kindness I can show, or any good thing I can do, let me do it now ... for I shall not pass this way again. Etienne De Grellet Order ofService Mrs. Rowena Dennard Organist PRELUDE ......................... ''Panis Angelicus" ...................... Cesar Franck Mrs. Natalie Fisher Colbert, Flutist PROCESSIONAL ............. 'We're Marching to Zion".............. Isaac Watts HYMN OF PRAISE ................ ''Blessed Assurance" ............. Fanny Crosby READINGS FROM THE HOLY BIBLE: The Old Testament, Ecclesiastes 3:1-14 The Reverend Gerald F. Richardson The New Testament , John 14:1-7, 15-17,27 The Reverend Dr. Miley Mae Hemphill PRAYER ............................................... The Reverend Anderson C. Cotton SOLO ...................... 'We Shall Behold Him" ...................... Dottie Rambo Ms . Angela Alexander TRIBUTES: Dr. Russell W. Irvine, Associate Professor, Georgia State University Dr. Ezekiel L. Kennedy, Former Student Deacon John F. Wyatt, Jr., West Hunter Street Baptist Church Ms. Juanita Stone, Sister MINISTRY OF MUSIC ................. ''Rise Again" ........................ The Choir EULOGY ......................................................................... Dr. T. J. Anderson ORGAN MEDLEY ........................................................... ''Amazing Grace" ''Because He Lives" "Sweet, Sweet Spirit" RECESSIONAL .......... ''When We All Get To Heaven" ........ Hewitt/Wilson "Faith is believing, seeing with one's mind after the night comes light. Faith is knowing, accepting in one's heart and soul, summer with its flowers follows spring showers. Faith is trusting, resting assured in every nerve and cell of one's body. God is there, always there, here - everywhere." Phyllis C. Michael 'Entombment Westview Cemetery 1680 Westview Drive, Southwest Atlanta, Georgia