Mary Elizabeth Banks Stephenson

1933 - 2021

Mary Elizabeth Banks Stephenson
October 29, 1933 - May 23, 2021
Clayton, North Carolina - Mary Elizabeth Banks Stephenson died peacefully on Sunday, May 23, 2021 surrounded by her family, after a brief illness.
Mary was born in Trenton, NC on October 29, 1933. She grew up in Dover, NC where she excelled as a high school basketball player. She met her husband, James W. Stephenson (Jimmie), and they soon married on July 5, 1952.
She retired from the State of North Carolina with most of her time spent with Department of Labor. Until her girls were both in elementary school, she stayed at home.
Mary was very involved in both her church and her community. She was a faithful member of Horne Memorial United Methodist Church for 69 years. In earlier years, she and her husband, Jimmie, were youth leaders of the UMYF, creating a teenager club for Friday and Saturday nights. Mary was one of the Girl Scout leaders for the first troop in Clayton. She was also a member of the Junior Woman's Club. For two years, she served as the President of the Shrinettes of the Sudan Temple.
Surviving members of her family include her daughter, Ann White (Frank), daughter, Stormy Stephenson; granddaughter, Brianna White; and great grandson, Grayson White, all of Clayton. She is also survived by three special nieces: Teresa Caudle of Oxford; Rose Page of McGee's; and Ginger Hawley of Oxford. Others include several nieces and nephews, half-brothers, half-sisters, and step-grandchildren.
Preceding Mary in death are: her husband, Jimmie; a son, James W. Stephenson II; granddaughters, Amanda and Christy White; her mother, Eula Edwards; brothers, James Banks and Harry Edwards; and sisters, Helen Avery and Myrtle Stallings.
Funeral services will be held 11:00am on Thursday, May 27, 2021 at Horne Memorial United Methodist Church with burial following at Maplewood Cemetery in Clayton. The family will receive friends on Wednesday, May 26, 2021 at McLaurin Funeral Home from 6:00 - 8:00pm.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Shriners Hospital for Children 950 W. Faris Rd, Greenville, SC 29605 or to the Amanda White Library Fund c/o Horne Memorial UMC 121 E 2nd St, Clayton, NC 27520. Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.mclaurinatpinecrest.com for the Stephenson family. Arrangements are with McLaurin Funeral Home, Clayton.