Paul Kent Stephenson

Paul Kent Stephenson, age 77, peacefully passed away at home, Tuesday morning, May 2, 2012. He was born and raised in Wake County as the only child of his late parents Ailene Buffaloe Stephenson and William Ralph Stephenson. He grew up in the McCullers farming community with deep family roots and a strong understanding of the importance of integrity and hard work. He graduated in 1953 from Hugh Morson High School, where he played football and met the love of his life, Shirley Baughan, of Raleigh. In 1954, he married Shirley and the two began their life together. Kent spent two years in the NC National Guard and then enlisted in the military during the Korean War. He proudly served his country in the US Air Force for 30 years starting as a jet propulsion mechanic and working his way up to a CMSgt Aircraft Propulsion Superintendant of 89th MAW at Andrews AFB for 11 years. After retiring and overseeing the construction of his home, he started a new career in the maintenance department at Rex Hospital where he worked for 13 years before health problems prevented him from continuing. Kent was a loving husband and devoted father. For years, he gave of his time coaching his sons little league teams. He was a friendly man who never met a stranger and most enjoyed visiting with family and friends. He stressed the importance of education to his children and instilled in them his work ethic. He also taught them to measure a person by their character and not their color, status, or other factors. He was an excellent conversationalist, mechanic, handyman, and craftsman that knew how to do everything that needed doing including working in his garden while he was able. Surviving him are his wife, Shirley Baughn Stephenson; son, Paul K. Stephenson, Jr.; daughter, Brenda S. Britt; and grandchildren, Shannon and Dominick Stephenson. Graveside Funeral Services will be held Sunday, May 6, 2012, at 2PM at Montlawn Memorial Park, 29811 S. Wilmington St., Raleigh, NC 27603. The family will receive friends from 6-8PM Saturday, M ay 5, 2012, at Bryan-Lee Funeral Home, Garner. In lieu of flowers, the family requests contributions to Hospice of Wake County, 250 Hospice Circle, Raleigh, NC 27607.