Bobbie H. Stephenson

Bobbie Jean Henderson Stephenson of Cary, passed away peacefully on December 26, 2023, at the North House of the Glenaire Medical Unit. The second daughter of T. C. and Mae Henderson, she was born on March 6, 1931, in the Iredell County community of Union Grove. After graduation from Union Grove High School, she moved to Statesville NC where she worked as a bank teller. One of her customers at the bank was Harry Stephenson, a young Mitchell College student and local AM radio station engineer from Fuquay Varina. Two years after they met Harry and Bobbie were married on February 12, 1955.

Together they moved to Wilson, North Carolina and finally to Cary where she lived since 1959. Bobbie was an active member of her community for over 60 years. She and Harry were charter members of St. Paul’s Christian Church in Raleigh. She was the support and anchor of their young family as Harry worked many long hours to establish Cary Oil Company, a local home heating oil delivery business.

She was predeceased by Harry D. Stephenson, her husband of 61 years. Together they traveled the world together and spent many wonderful years enjoying the Blue Ridge Mountains at their home near Roaring Gap, NC. An ardent NC State football and basketball fan, Bobbie and Harry were regular attendees at the ACC Basketball Tournament for many years. She was a wonderful cook, a gracious hostess and a tireless encourager to her husband, children, and grandchildren. Bobbie was known for her keen intellect, curious mind, and generous heart. Her deep and abiding faith called her to be a passionate advocate for Jewish-Christian cooperation around shared identity.

Bobbie was also predeceased by her parents, older sister Sybil Henderson Tomlinson, and her younger brother John Thomas Henderson. She is survived by her sons, Don and wife Pattie, Craig and wife Christine, Rick and wife Marcia, and a niece Debbie Tomlinson Smith of Statesville. Additionally, 9 grandchildren and 11 great grandchildren will remember their “Grandma Bobbie” or “Grammy”.

The family would like to express their sincere thanks to the entire staff of North House at Glenaire for their compassionate care during the past months.

In lieu of flowers, a gift may be made to the Glenaire Foundation, Inc. 4000 Glenaire Circle Cary, NC 27511.

A private family internment is planned for a later date.

Condolences and expressions of sympathy may be made to the Stephenson family below.