Paul Thomas Stephenson Sr

Paul Thomas Stephenson Sr. of Athens, Georgia peacefully joined the Lord on Thursday July 7. He was the son of the late Thomas Benjamin Stephenson and Montine Minnie Stephenson. His siblings, Lon Anderson, Earleze Sorrow, Tena Kincaid, Sara Howington, and Carlene Finger, preceded him in death; Harold Stephenson and Mary Shadden remain. At the time of his passing, Paul was the oldest living member of West End Baptist Church and had been an active congregant. As a young man, he helped in the first renovation of the church from its original wooden structure to a brick structure during the 40s. In later years, he served as an avid choir member, member of the Long Sunday School class, AWANA commander, deacon and trustee.
During his youth, Paul was an active member of the Boy Scouts. In his early years, he apprenticed as a print maker at the McGregor Company. Highly patriotic and loyal to his country, Paul served in the US Army on active duty at Fort Knox and remained a long-term reservist in Athens. He was a highly accomplished artist, calligrapher, and gilder. Paul's work appeared throughout the Athens area on windows, buildings, and vehicles. His guilt-work appeared at the UGA President's Office, the UGA Bookstore, and historic Old College. Twentieth Century Fox-TV featured his signage in the "Breaking Away" television series filmed in Athens during the late 1970s.
Paul retired after 30 years of service from the US Department of Agriculture Soil Conservation where he was the first engineering draftsman in Athens to convert hand-drawn blueprints to computer format. In recent years, Paul worked on historical research regarding his Cherokee heritage. Most importantly, he loved being with his family.
Paul had just celebrated his 58th wedding anniversary with his wife Amelia who survives him along with his son and daughter-in-law Tom and Holly Stephenson, and their children Brad, Annie, and Camille; and other son, Doctor Todd Stephenson. Paul adored his three grandchildren and especially loved spending time with them whether attending their school and social involvements or actively participating and helping them with their numerous projects
Paul was a remarkable and talented man and his family, friends, and community will miss him greatly. Visitation for friends and family will be at Lord and Stephens, West, on Sunday July 10 from 2-3:30pm with a short celebration of life afterwards.