Jimmie Stephens, 79, of Tifton went home to be with the Lord on Saturday, November 12, 2011, at Willson Hospice House in Albany, Georgia, surrounded by his family, following a brief illness. Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Tuesday, November 15, 2011, in the Chapel of Bowen-Donaldson Home for Funerals. Rev. Terrell Roberts will officiate with burial to follow in Oak Ridge Cemetery. Chad Alexander, Rob Stalvey, Josh Woodruff, Clinton Moore, Stephen Mullis, Tommy Bobo, Alan Swails and Tommy Sullivan will serve as pallbearers. The family will receive friends on Monday, November 14, 2011, from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. in the Chapel of Bowen-Donaldson Home for Funerals.
Mr. Stephens was born on April 28, 1932 in Cook County and was the son of W.T. “Uncle Pump” Stephens and Sallie Belle Moore Stephens, both deceased. He was preceded in death by his wife of 60 years, Jeanette Stephens, who passed away on July 6, 2011. He was also preceded in death by four brothers, John Stephens, Russ Stephens, Earnest Stephens, and Gerald Stephens; and two sisters, Lillian Arnold, and Mae Morgan. He worked at Southern Turf and was owner/operator of Jimmie Stephens Wrecker Service. He was a devoted and loving husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather. He was a member of Tift Avenue Baptist Church.
Mr. Stephens is survived by three daughters and sons-in-law, Joan and Stan Carr, Joy and Joel Doles and Jean and Tommy Hasty, all of Tifton; five grandchildren and their spouses, James Turnmire of Tifton, Stephanie and Chad Alexander of Tifton, Amy and Eric Hagan of Woodstock, Jennifer and Rob Stalvey of Valdosta and Shelley and Josh Woodruff of Atlanta; five great-grandchildren, who thought the world of him, Haley Alexander, Luke Alexander, Kailey Hagan, Eric Hagan and Elizabeth Stalvey; one sister, Geneva Swails Hayman of Albany, and numerous nieces and nephews.