Dwight J. Stephenson

Dwight J. Stephenson, 98, of Angier North Carolina, passed peacefully in Hospice Care at home, to be with his Lord and Savior on Wednesday morning, July 26, 2023. He is survived by his wife (and the love of his life) Eloise Pleasant Stephenson, and his three sons Franklin (Susan), Phil (Angela), and Vann (Lynn), his two brothers Bobby and Neil, and sister Javain. He was preceded in death by his parents, NV Sr. and Vera, and his sisters…Sarah, Lucille, Inez, Ruth, and Betty and brother NV Jr.

Dwight loved and adored his family and especially enjoyed and delighted in his seven grand children (Michelle, Jamie, Drew, Kyle, Nathan, Lauren, and Kirk) and his ten great grandchildren (Emma, Elle, Jacob, Audrey, Sadie, Lane, Bailey, Annabelle, Luke, and Kennedy). Summer visits from his family over the years included exploring the family farm, fishing in the pond, picking vegetables and fruit from the garden, and watching his beloved Purple Martins work in his adjacent Purple Martin sanctuary.

Dwight was a successful farmer and businessman and built his family and home based on love, respect, fairness, honesty, and hard work. He loved his neighbors, community, and his Country. He served in the United States Army from 1944 through 1945 as part of the 242 Rainbow Division that liberated parts of France during World War II. He was honored by the French Government in 2015, by receiving France’s “French National Order of the Legion of Honor”—an expression of the French government’s gratitude to those who liberated it from the German Third Reich. After returning from the war, he turned his attention to building his family and serving his beloved Angier community, acting in many roles of service and leadership in the Church and Community over the next 75 years. Dwight served multiple terms as a Deacon in his beloved Angier Baptist Church. In addition to his many years as an avid farmer, Dwight founded Stephenson Builders in 1984 which has become a legacy company within the family. Some of Dwight’s extensive list of community leadership roles included Chairman of the local School Board, local First Citizens Bank Board, local Farm Bureau and Angier Black River Fire Department Boards as well as numerous Harnett County Farm Agency Boards.

The Stephenson Family would like to extend a special note of appreciation and thanks to the devoted Ladies that provided care to our loved one in the home. You all have been a special blessing, and we are grateful for all you did. We especially appreciate the dedication and love provided by Dorothy Bell and Ludie Harris for over three years, and Inetta Hinton.

A visitation is planned for 1:00-2:45 pm, Tuesday, August 1, 2023, at Angier Baptist Church, Angier NC, followed by the funeral service at 3:00 pm at the church. A graveside service will follow the funeral at Lakeside Memorial Gardens, Angier, NC. Arrangements are by Bryan-Lee Funeral Home in Angier.

Flowers are appreciated or memorial contributions may be made to Angier Baptist Church, P.O. Box 130 Angier, NC 27501 in Dwight's memory.