William Thomas Stephenson

SMITHFIELD - Mr. William Thomas Stephenson, 63, of Smithfield, Va., passed away Friday, Dec. 10, 2004, at Louise Obici Memorial Hospital, Suffolk, Va. He was a native and lifelong resident of Isle of Wight, Va., and was the son of the late James O. and Nora Atkins Stephenson. He was a member of Mill Swamp Baptist Church, where he served as a deacon, Sunday School teacher of the Senior Adult Class, and he was also an avid fisherman. Mr. Stephenson was retired from the Newport News Shipyard where he worked as an electrician. He is survived by his wife, Nellie Wells Stephenson; one daughter, Jill Stephenson Fitzkee and husband, Tom, of Florence, S.C.; one son, William Blake Stephenson of Smithfield; three granddaughters, Lauren, Rachel and Sarah Fitzkee, all of Florence, S.C.; sister, Mary Ann Joyner of Wakefield, Va.; brother, James F. Stephenson of Windsor, Va.; stepmother, Grace O. Stephenson of Windsor, Va.; mother-in-law, Martha J. Wells of Smithfield, Va.; and brother-in-law, Robert W. Wells Jr. Funeral services will be conducted at 2 p.m. Monday, Dec. 13, in Mill Swamp Baptist Church with the Rev. Jim Jones officiating. Interment will be in Mill Swamp Cemetery. The family received friends from 7 to 8:30 p.m. on Sunday evening at the Purviance Funeral Home, Wakefield. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Mill Swamp Baptist Church Building Fund, 6329 Mill Swamp Road, Ivor, VA 23866. Purviance Funeral Home, Wakefield, assisted the family with arrangements.