Dorothy Echols Stephens

Dorothy Brooks Echols Stephens, age 85, died Sunday, August 28, 2011 in Tallahassee, FL, at the home of her daughter while in the primary care of her daughters, as well as her granddaughter, Tracy Wallace Johnson, other loving family members and Big Bend Hospice.

Dorothy was born in Starkville, Mississippi, and grew up on a large dairy farm. After her marriage to Johnnie Stephens, she moved to Tallahassee. The two of them finally fulfilled their dream of moving to Lake Talquin where Dorothy resided for more than forty years. Loving was probably her greatest gift of all. It took only a few minutes for a stranger to fall in love with her. Many family friends call her Mama or Grandmama or Mama Steve. Anyone felt at home as she quickly folded him or her into her extended family. Her joy for life and laughter was infectious. Her compassion and generosity touched everyone.

Dorothy was a member of the Lake Talquin Garden Club, Ft. Braden Volunteer Fire Department (before the fire station was built on Highway 20) and a long-time volunteer at Voting Polls in the Ft. Braden Community. She loved fishing, cooking, working in her flower garden (with a few tomatoes growing in-between the roses), flower arranging and winning blue ribbons, playing board games and cards, reading, sewing (she occasionally worked part-time in fabrics stores, because sewing was one of her passions) and embroidery.

She was predeceased by her father, Hannibal Astin Echols; her mother, Margaret Jordan Echols; her husband Johnnie Perry Stephens; her son, Johnnie Perry Stephens, Jr.; her sister, Margaret Echols Lollar; her brothers, Sid Echols and Albert “Red” Echols; sisters-in-law: June Echols, Jerry Echols, Dorothy Echols and Vera Holland; and her son-in-law, David M. Workman.

She is survived by her brother, Edwin “Joe” Echols (Pearl, MS); daughters, Peggy Stephens Workman (Tallahassee, FL), Carolyn Stephens Wallace (Tallahassee, FL), Deborah Stephens Kuper and husband Lyle D. Kuper (Greer, SC); daughter-in-law, Sally Trott Stephens Sperling (Tallahassee, FL); brother-in-law, Hubert Lollar (Laurens, SC); sisters-in-law, Eunice Prevatt, Kathryn Streetman and Mary Minton. There are 5 grandchildren, K. Scott Kremkau (wife Dawn), Tracy Wallace Johnson, Johnnie “Jay” Wallace, Jesse “Turtle” Wallace, Jr. and W. Trent Mathers (wife Bethany). Her 11 great-grandchildren are, Sidney Johnson, Whitney Wallace, Brandon Wallace, Keely Mathers, Brianna Wallace, Kaitlyn Kremkau, Colbe Wallace, Bridgette Wallace, Todd Kremkau, Rowan Mathers, Brooklyn Wallace.

The Funeral Service will be held Friday, September 2, 2011 at 2:00 p.m. from Culley’s MeadowWood Chapel, 1737 Riggins Road (850) 877-8191 with Visitation beginning at Noon. Burial will follow at Roselawn Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Big Bend Hospice 1723 Mahan Center Blvd 32308.

Arrangements are under the direction of Culley's MeadowWood Funeral Home in Tallahssee, Florida.