S*1455 Resolution, By Moore
 A Senate Resolution extending the deepest sympathy of the members of the
 Senate to the family and many friends and admirers of Reverend Augustus T.
 Stephens, of Aiken, who died March 23, 1992.

   04/08/92  Senate Introduced and adopted SJ-20

A SENATE RESOLUTION

EXTENDING THE DEEPEST SYMPATHY OF THE MEMBERS OF THE SENATE TO THE FAMILY AND MANY FRIENDS AND ADMIRERS OF REVEREND AUGUSTUS T. STEPHENS, OF AIKEN, WHO DIED MARCH 23, 1992.

Whereas, Reverend Augustus T. Stephens of Aiken died March 23, 1992; and;

Whereas, for thirty years he served in the education profession as a teacher and school administrator, and for forty-five years, until his retirement about ten years ago, he served as a Baptist minister; and

Whereas, Reverend Stephens was born on the Savannah River Plant site near Williston. His father operated an eight hundred acre farm and also was a minister; and

Whereas, he received his secondary education at Morris College, Sumter, and at Benedict College, Columbia, both of which institutions offered high school curricula as well as college level courses. He graduated from Benedict with a bachelor's degree in 1935; and

Whereas, the same year he married Eunice Sherard of Seneca. As a newlywed, Reverend Stephens was ordained as a Baptist minister at this home church, Fair Branch, on the Savannah River Site. The church has been moved to White Pond; and

Whereas, Reverend Stephens served as principal at Old Storm Branch Academy, at Sanders High School at Laurens, at Jefferson Elementary at Bath, and at Freedman Elementary at Graniteville; and

Whereas, he also served pastorates at Old Mount Zion, Ninety Six, Ebenezer Baptist at Seneca, Valley Fair at Graniteville, and Shaw's Creek and Mount Canaan at Trenton. He served simultaneously for twenty-six years at Shaw's Creek and at Valley Fair; and

Whereas, Reverend and Mrs. Stephens were married for fifty-six years and the parents of five children, all of whom are college-educated and all of whom have been at one time school teachers. Mrs. Stephens retired after forty-three years as a teacher. A son, Augustus T. Stephens, Jr. of Aiken, is a former member of the Aiken County School Board. Another son, Dr. Julius A. Stephens, is a dentist living in North Augusta. A third son, Lemeul Cecil Stephens, is a department head in the State Department of Education in Columbia; and

Whereas, according to those who knew him well, Reverend Stephens leaves behind a record of outstanding service to mankind; and

Whereas, the members of the Senate join those who grieve Reverend Stephen's passing and recognize him for his dedication to his fellowman. Now, therefore,

Be it resolved by the Senate:

That the members of Senate extend their deepest sympathy to the family and many friends and admirers of Reverend Augustus T. Stephens, of Aiken, who died March 23, 1992.

Be it further resolved that a copy of this resolution be forwarded to the Stephens family.