James Cecil Stephens

James Cecil Stephens, age 84, resident of Somerville, Tennessee, departed this life Tuesday afternoon, May 28, 2024 at his home.

James was born on August 12, 1939 in Blytheville, Arkansas, the son of the late Wade and Ollie Stephens. He was a hard worker who provided for his family. He was the manager at Lithograph Printing Company in Memphis, Tennessee, for many years before his retirement in 2006.

James’s children had many family memories of their dad that included going to the bowling alley watching him play on the bowling league, playing his guitar while sitting in the recliner and singing, especially Elvis Presley songs, and playing basketball with his family just before sunset. Other memories included riding to the sawmill every Saturday morning, only to bring back sawdust that he just “had to have” to spread in the shop to soak up oil, fishing at Shelby Farms, going to the cabin at Shelby Forest, cooking out and feeding the raccoons.

Mr. Stephens was very involved in sports when his children were younger. He would squat and pitch for many hours with his son on the family farm just so his son could perfectly play baseball. They lived on the family farm and that is where many of these memories were made including having bonfires and hayrides.

There are too many memories to begin listing, but these will give the family the strength to live in a world without James in it.

Mr. Stephens is survived by three children, Tabatha Stephens (Stevie Lipford, Jr.) of Somerville, TN, Steve Stephens (Heather) of Oakland, TN and Belinda Hasty of Heflin, AL; the mother of his children, Sherryl Baker (Donnie) of Ash Flat, AR; six grandchildren, Colby Stephens (Kimberly Steele) of Memphis, TN, Presley Bullard (Matthew) of Somerville, TN, JJ Stephens of Cordova, TN, Ella Mae Lipford of Somerville, TN, Phillip and Rose; and his great-grandson, Colton Bullard of Somerville, TN.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his sister, Wadean Johnson of West Memphis, AR and his beloved pets, Chance and Shadow.