October 11, 2016

A graveside service for Mary Kidd Tinsley Stephenson of Hartselle will be Sat., Oct. 15, at 1 p.m. at Hartselle City Cemetery with the Rev. Dr. Ron Wilson officiating and Peck Funeral Home Directing.

Mrs. Stephenson died Oct. 11, 2016. She was born in Birmingham to Irving W. Tinsley and Meeda Kidd Tinsley. She attended Birmingham schools and her freshman year at Brenau College for Women. She transferred to Auburn University where she graduated as President of the Cardinal Key Honor Society (now Mortar Board) and President of Alpha Gamma Delta Sorority. She was also elected to Who’s Who in American Colleges and Universities.

After graduating with a degree in art, she married the late James Howell Stephenson and moved to Hartselle where they built as a fifth generation on the Stephenson land on Bethel Road. Mrs. Stephenson became a member of First Baptist Church of Hartselle, in 1946. Throughout her 70-year membership, she served as a Sunbeams teacher and faithfully served in the church library for many years. She enjoyed selling real estate for Hartselle Real Estate from 1976 through 1986. She was the leading sales producer in 1982. She adored the game of bridge and was a charter member of both the Hartselle Bridge Club and the Hartselle Rainbow Garden Club. Throughout her life, she joined many bridge clubs in Hartselle and Cullman and enjoyed playing bridge online.

She is survived by her three children, James H. Stephenson, II (Sharon Wood), Anne Tinsley Knowlton (Bobby Knowlton) and George Kidd Stephenson (Dena Murphy); seven grandchildren; and ten great grandchildren.

Pallbearers will be Woody Stephenson, Trey Stephenson, Jay Knowlton, Charlie Knowlton, Shane Hopkins and Will Stephenson.

The family would like to thank the loving, caring members of Hospice of the Valley for their unfailing support.