Sheldon Baker Stephenson

Stephenson, Sheldon Baker

Morganton, NC: Sheldon Baker Stephenson, 93, of Grace Ridge, Morganton, NC, died Saturday, January 4, 2014, at Grace Ridge Health Care Center. He was born in Hornell, NY, son of Sheldon Canfield and Minerva Baker Stephenson. Raised in Syracuse, NY, Sheldon graduated from Eastwood High School in 1938. He was a 1942 graduate of Syracuse University College of Forestry majoring in Organic Chemistry and Pulp and Paper Manufacturing. During this time he had a life-changing moment in which he committed his life to Jesus Christ. He then went to Boston University School of Theology, graduating with honors in 1945. In May of 1944 he married Charlotte Marion Love, also of Syracuse. He served as Assistant Minister at First Methodist Church, Syracuse; Minoa/N. Manlius Church from 1946-52; First Methodist Church of Penn Yan from 1952-1962; and St. Paul's United Methodist Church in Ithaca, NY from 1962-1974. From 1974-1978 he served as District Superintendent of the Central New York Conference. From 1945-1996 he preached over 2500 sermons and officiated at the baptism of over 800 children, 700 marriages, and 1000 funerals. Highlights of his ministerial career included preaching missions to Mexico, Costa Rica, and Nicaragua; leading a group of ministers to Russia to promote peace during the Cold War; and marching with Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. in Washington, DC for his "I Have a Dream" speech. In 1985 he retired to a farm in Trumansburg, NY where he rode his Morgan horse and tended honeybees. He also served as pastor of Mecklenburg and Jacksonville United Methodist churches. He and his wife selected Grace Ridge in NC as a final home where they moved in January 1994. There he continued to find many ways of serving the community, including volunteering in the Emergency Room, giving the invocation at the City Council, helping coach kids to read at an elementary school, and serving as Chaplain with the Morganton Dept. of Public Safety until he was 90 years of age. Sheldon is survived by his 3 children and their spouses, Tom and Wendy Stephenson of Brooklyn, NY, Mark and Kristin Stephenson of Napa, CA, and Marcia Stephenson and Tom Broden of West Lafayette, IN; as well as 3 grandchildren, Graham Sheldon, Claire, and Lucas of Napa, CA. A memorial service will be held at First Methodist Church in Morganton on Saturday, January 11th, at 11 a.m. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Burke United Christian Ministries, 305 W. Union St., Morganton, NC 28655. Sossoman Funeral Home, Morganton, NC is assisting the family. Condolences may be made online at www.sossomanfuneralservice.com.