She was born in Sonoraville, Dec. 15, 1917, daughter of the late Henry Grady and Lily Ada Shope Tate. Mrs. Stephens was a member of the First Christian Church, had taught the Little Fisherman Sunday School class, and was an active member in the Ladies' Prayer Fellowship. She was preceded in death by her husband, Edwin Andrew Stephens in 2002; a brother, J.B. Tate and two sisters, Martha Stone and Mary Frances Tate.
Survivors include two sons and daughters-in-law, Ronald and Marsha Stephens of Adairsville and Austin and Julie Stephens of Adairsville; five grandchildren, Addie Stephens, Brandon (Victoria) Stephens, Nicole Stephens, Jason (Jennifer) Randolph and Joshua (Tonya) Randolph; five great grandchildren, Hayden, Chyanne, and Leya Randolph, OliviaKate Stephens and AnaGail Eubank; three brothers, Doyle, Lawrence, and Vinson Tate; three sisters, Eva Richardson, Betty Ruth Godfrey, and Helen Ann Davenport; several nieces and nephews also survive.
Funeral services will be held Thursday, May 12, 2011 at 2 p.m., at the First Christian Church, Adairsville, with Min. Danny Pelfrey and Min. Jack Roebuck officiating. Interment will follow in Eastview Cemetery, Adairsville. The body will lie in state Thursday at the church from 1 p.m. until the funeral hour.
Pallbearers will be Jason Randolph, Joshua Randolph, Brandon Stephens, Michael Tate, Richard Cowart, John D. Hooker, Ronnie Self and Wayne Abernathy, while William Jackson Jr., the deacons of the church and elders of the church will serve as honorary pallbearers.
The family will receive friends Wednesday from 6 until 9 p.m., at Barton Funeral Home.
R. Dudley Barton & Son Funeral Home, Adairsville, will be in charge of funeral arrangements for Mrs. Ira Mae Stephens