Emily Stephens

1930 - 2024

Emily Stephens

April 15, 1930 - June 13, 2024

North Myrtle Beach, South Carolina - Emily Laura Floyd Stephens, 94, of North Myrtle Beach, went home to be with her Lord on Thursday, June 13, 2024, while in the McLeod Seacoast Hospital.

Born on April 15, 1930, Emily was the daughter of the late English Troy Floyd and Maggie Walters Floyd. In addition to her parents, Emily was also preceded in death by her husband, Lucian "Luke" Pope Stephens, Sr. ; son, Kenneth Bud Stephens and siblings, James Henry Floyd, George Floyd, Louise Green, Gladys Scott, Sadie Shannon, Reba Sealey, Blanche Hedgepeth.

Funeral services will be conducted at 11:00 a.m. Wednesday June 19, 2024, at First Baptist Church of North Myrtle Beach (200 Hwy 17 South, North Myrtle Beach, SC) with Dr. Greg Hyler and Dr. John Gambrell officiating. Entombment will follow at 3:00 p.m. Wednesday at Stephens Cemetery (2947 Bud Stephens Road), Evergreen, NC 28438.

Visitation for family and friends will be from 6:00-8:00 p.m. Tuesday, June 18, 2024 at the Worthington Funeral Home Chapel in Chadbourn, NC. (405 E. Strawberry Blvd.).

Ms. Stephens was a member of the First Baptist Church of North Myrtle Beach. Emily along with her late husband, Luke, were the owners and operators of the Pelican Motel in Cherry Grove Beach and they later constructed the Blockade Runner Motor Inn in North Myrtle Beach.

Ms. Stephens began her service to the community as a Sunday school teacher and choir member at Evergreen Baptist Church. In 1966, she joined the Driftwood Garden Club, where she eventually served five, three-year terms as President. In 1979 she became a member of the board for the Garden Club of South Carolina, where she served as President from 1999-2001, and in 1995 she was honored to join the board for the National Garden Club. She earned the title of "Lifetime Member" from both the Garden Club of SC and the National Garden Club. She was also a member of the Chamber of Commerce, member and president of Landscape Design Consultants Council, member and chairman of Tree City, member and president of Nationally Accredited Judges Club, Woman of the Year, and Career Woman Grand Strand BPW.

In 1996, Ms. Emily Stephens was the first woman Grand Marshal for the North Myrtle Beach St. Patrick's Day Parade; Then in 2021, she served as Grand Marshal for the North Myrtle Beach Christmas Parade, after serving as Chair for the Mayor's Christmas Advisory Committee for 20+ years.

Emily is survived by her two sons, Lucian Pope Stephens, Jr. of North Myrtle Beach and Michael Floyd Stephens of North Myrtle Beach; sister, Sara F. Brooks of Whiteville; her loving fur-babies, Scarlette and Chase.

Memorials may be made to North Myrtle Beach Baptist Church Building Fund, 200 Hwy 17 South, North Myrtle Beach, SC.

Worthington Funeral Home of Chadbourn is serving the Stephens Family.