Candace Anita Stephens

Candace Anita Stephens, age 62, of Tuscaloosa, passed away on August 29, 2016, at Hospice of West Alabama. A memorial service will be held at 5 p.m. on Thursday, September 1, 2016, at Tuscaloosa Memorial Chapel with Rev. Dan Kilgore officiating. A visitation will be held one hour prior to the memorial service at the funeral home. She was preceded in death by her father, Calvin C. Stephens; mother, Dorothy Stephens; and her "Fur Babies", Kit and Baby. Survivors include her brother, Rick Stephens (Marilyn) and nephews, Mark White, Jon Stephens, and Joe Stephens. Candy grew up in Childersburg, Ala. and graduated from Childersburg High School, Class of 1972. She later attended the University of Alabama where she received her Bachelor of Science and Master of Arts in Special Education. After a year of teaching in Baton Rouge, La., Candy returned to Tuscaloosa where she taught at Walker Elementary, The Tuscaloosa Alternative School and Davis-Emerson Middle School. Candy loved and was active in the arts, serving as a volunteer and board member with the Kentuck Art Center. She also did costume work with Theatre Tuscaloosa and Actor's Charitable Theatre. Her love of folk art and the artists themselves made this a labor of love. Her costumed bears were also a coveted remembrance of the various theatrical productions she worked with. Throughout her illness, she never lost her sense of humor and was sustained by the love of friends and classmates. Candy will be missed by those who knew and loved her but the memories that she left will live forever. The family would like to thank her many friends, neighbors in Oakwood Court, sitters, and nurses and staff of Hospice of West Alabama for their love and care. Honorary pallbearers are Kris Drensky, Dianne Prisoc, Frieda Burroughs, Pam Hisey, Jimmy and Chris Harkins, Peter and Linda Wallenfang, Earl and Marilyn Wesson, Judi and Preston Headrick, Roger Littleton, Steward and Rita Smith, Bonnie Robinson, Charlene Harbin and a host of others who helped her. In lieu of flowers, donations should be made to Hospice of West Alabama, Kentuck or the charity of your choice.