Susan Heard Stephens

Susan Heard Stephens, September 13, 1920-July 3, 2017, passed away Monday at The Retreat in Monticello, Ga.

Susan Stephens was born in Elberton, Ga., to the late George Erskine Heard and Lottie Seymour Heard. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by sisters Carolyn Fuller, Hazel Bartow, Jean Holland, Martha Farris, and brothers Bedford Heard and George Heard.

Susan spent her early childhood in the mountains near Baldwin, Ga., where her father was involved in the building of Lake Burton and Lake Rabon. She then moved to Atlanta where she attended Girls’ High School and then to Albany, Georgia where she graduated from Albany High School in 1937. In 1939, she married Forrest Stephens in a marriage that lasted 55 years, until his death in 1994. In 1992, she and Forrest moved to Monticello to be near children and grandchildren where they remained until their deaths.

Susan was an expert seamstress, gardener, and homemaker. She was a member of the Dougherty County Home Demonstration Club and won many awards for her canning, flowers, and sewing projects including embroidery, crocheting, and dressmaking. Her children and grandchildren enjoyed the benefits in all forms of clothing, formals, and even a wedding gown. In her later years, she created many beautiful quilts.

For many years she worked for Morrison’s Interiors of Albany as their principal seamstress and supervisor. When her children were small she worked from home. She retired from Morrison’s in 1972 to return to her love of flowers and gardening, growing many varieties of daylilies and hybridizing new varieties. She continued that activity upon her move to Monticello where she became a member of the Garden Club. Some of her daylilies now decorate the square where they were planted by the Garden Club.

In Albany she and her husband were members of First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) for over 40 years and were instrumental in the building, furnishing, and landscaping of two new churches during that time. Upon their move to Monticello, they joined the First United Methodist Church where she has been a member for 25 years of the Fellowship Sunday School Class and the Joy Group.

Among her many activities she perhaps enjoyed most fishing, making many friends through the shared activity and always in search of a “bigger” bass.

She is survived by her daughters Charlotte (Lamar) Crawley of Monticello, Anna Arthur of Conyers, and son Allan (Terrie) Stephens of Panama City Beach, Fla.; six granddaughters Suzanne (Eric) Arena of Monticello, Stephanie (Anil) Malhotra of Mableton, Melanie (Neil) Boyce of Panama City, Holly Baker of Eufaula, AL, Caroline (Jason) Johnson of Covington, and Wendy Ballance of Asheville, NC; eight great-grandchildren, Stephen Arena, Zoe Arena, Hannah Baker, Jackson Malhotra, Noah Malhotra, Carson Johnson, Zettie Johnson, and Fletcher Ballance.

Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m., Thursday, July 6, 2017, at the Chapel of Jordan Funeral Home. Rev. Melanie Stanley-Soulen will officiate.

The family will receive friends from 10 until 11 a.m., Thursday, July 6, 2017, at Jordan Funeral Home, prior to the service.

Memorials may be made to the First Christian Church of Albany, GA, 416 N. Westover Blvd, Albany, GA 31707, to the Monticello Garden Club, P. O. Box 199, Shady Dale, Ga. 31085, or to the church of one’s choice.

Jordan Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. Visit its website at www.jordanfuneralhomemonticello.com.