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Funeral services for Mr. Billie Eugene Stephens, age 81, will be held at 2 pm Monday, May 9, 2022 at the Shelton Funeral Home Chapel with burial to follow in Follis Chapel Cemetery. Visitation will held from 10 am until service time on Monday.
Mr. Stephens was born April 21, 1941 in Lexington, TN. His family moved to Lewis County where he and his dad cut logs and he would always say “I grew up in the woods.” He passed away peacefully surrounded by loved one on May 4, 2022.
Mr. Stephens served three years in the US Army with the 101st Airborne Division with 30 jumps from an airplane. He was an airplane pilot, aircraft owner, aircraft builder, and FCC ham radio operator. He moved to Gibson County from Lake County on January 1, 1955 and spent the next 67 years in Gibson County.
Mr. Stephens worked on his first car at the age of 12. He spent 42 years as an auto truck and tractor mechanic. He spent 32 years with Gibson EMC, where he retired in 2004. He was an ASE certified Master Automobile, ASE certified Master H-D Truck Technician, Certified Doctor of Motors with Deisel endorsement, and over 20 Hydraulic endorsements.
Mr. Stephens was of the Christian faith and a member of Immanuel Baptist Church for over 30 years.
Mr. Stephens was preceded in death by his wife of over 50 years, Jamie Geneva Petty Stephens; his parents, Eugene “Gene” and Willie W. Lindsey Stephens; grandparents, Subbie Leroy and Virgie Lee Hill Stephens, and William “Bill” and Nora Wood Lindsey; 2 sisters Mary Helen Stephens and Shirley Ann Harmon; a brother Bobby W. Stephens; and 2 sons, Billie Eugene Stephens Jr. and an unnamed son.
Mr. Stephens is survived by a daughter, Pamela Jane Martin and husband Ronnie; a son, Jason Eugene Stephens; 4 grandchildren; 4 great-grandchildren,; a very special friend, Ann Crocker; and hundreds and hundreds of cousins, nieces and nephews.
Mr. Stephens always looked at the world and people with love and compassion even when he was not met with the same graces. He loved to make people laugh and have a good time. He spoke his mind whenever he felt like it and didn’t care if you liked or not. Though losing him is difficult, it is hard to be sad when you know that he was reunited with his loved ones in Heaven. He is finally living without pain and in perfect peace.
