Shirley Baughan Stephenson

RALEIGH – Shirley Stephenson, died at home and went to be with the Lord on November 23, 2022. Shirley was born in Newbern and was the daughter of the late Charlie Gillespie and Mildred Baker Baughan. She graduated from Hugh Morrison High School in Raleigh in 1953. Shirley married her high school sweetheart, Paul Kent Stephenson, in 1954. Before his passing in 2012, they were married for 58 wonderful years.

Shirley faithfully followed her husband while he proudly served his country in the United States Air Force through Texas, Georgia, Maine, Louisiana, Nebraska, Maryland, the Philippines and North Carolina during Kent’s deployments. In 1984, they finally came home to North Carolina when Kent retired. Shirley not only raised and took care of her family during these journeys, but also worked and was employed with the Marines, Navy and finally the Social Security Administration before retiring in 1995. Shirley was a quiet soul who was funny and dearly loved her dogs as if they were her own kids. Her loves were playing the piano, gardening, crocheting, reading, and playing with her grandchildren.

In addition to her parents and husband, Shirley was preceded in death by her sisters, Virginia Jones and husband Wiley Lee “Jack” Jones, Peggy Young and her husband, Herbert C. Young, Sally Baker and niece, Linda Young.

Shirley is survived by her daughter, Brenda S. Britt and son, Paul K. Stephenson, Jr. and his wife, Mary Francis Watson; grandchildren, Dominick Stephenson and wife, Sara Hebert, Shannon and James Revis; great-grandchildren, Vera, Cole and many nieces and nephews.

Graveside services will be held on Wednesday, November 30th, 2022 at 10 AM at Montlawn Memorial Park, Raleigh.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in her honor to the Alzheimer's Association, 5171 Glenwood Ave #101, Raleigh, NC 27612.