James Richard Stephens

A Graveside Service will be held on Monday, October 16, 2017 at 3:00pm in Parkhill Cemetery, 4161 Macon Road Columbus, with Dr. Jimmy Elder officiating. The family will receive friends at Striffler-Hamby, 4071 Macon Road Columbus, on Monday from 1:30-3:00pm prior to the service beginning.

Mr. Stephens, son of the late John Emmett Stephens and Amie Lucius Jones Stephens, was born September 14, 1923 in Columbus, Georgia.

He was a graduate of Jordan High School and served our country honorably in the U.S. Army during WWII.

After his service, he worked and eventually retired as a Rate Clerk from the Norfolk-Southern Railroad. Mr. Stephens was a member of First Baptist Church of Columbus.

Other than his parents, he was preceded in death by his brothers, E. Melford Stephens, Ralph H. Stephens; and sister, Rebecca S. Hale.

Mr. Stephens is survived by his wife, Virginia Etheridge Stephens; daughters, Jane S. Bush of Fl., Jenny S. Price and her husband James R. of Cornelia, Ga.; grandchildren, Stephanie J. Bush of Fl., Keaton J. Bush of La., Ridley V. Griggs and her fiancee’ Scott Kindig of Atlanta, Ga.; son-in-law, Herbert K. Bush of La.; brother-in-law, E.B. Hale Jr. of Columbus, Ga.; sisters-in-law, Nita M. Stephens of Alpharetta, Ga., Jane C. Stephens of Newnan, Ga., Gerry H. Etheridge of Cleveland, Tn.; several nieces and nephews.

Contributions if so desired may be made to the Television Ministry of First Baptist Church, P.O. Box 828 Columbus, Ga. 31902.