Reba "Sue" Ferrell Stephenson of Olive Branch, MS was 88 years old at the time of her death on June 2, 2017. Sue was known for her beautiful auburn hair, contagious smile and her spirited personality.
Sue was the youngest of 5 children born to James and Lillie Ferrell in Memphis on August 26, 1928. She was born and lived her entire childhood days on South Parkway East. She attended Cummings Grammar School and Southside High School and worked at Coletta''s Italian Restaurant, Sears Mail Order and Seaboard Finance. She met the love of her life, William "Steve" Stephenson, at Sears and married him on December 19, 1947 in Memphis, TN. After starting a family, Sue was a homemaker and mother to 5 children.
Sue was a member at Gracewood Baptist Church in Southaven, MS. She loved her church family, Sunday School class and loved to sing in the choir. She also loved all sports and especially loved to watch University of Memphis basketball, tennis and golf. Sue''s one claim to fame was winning a singing contest singing "You Dropped Me Like a Red-Hot Penny" on the radio at the age of 10.
She is survived by her husband of 69 years, William "Steve" Stephenson. Sue and Steve had 5 children: Predeceased by Phillip (Kathy) Stephenson of Memphis, TN and survived by Richard (Donja) Stephenson of Encinitas, CA; Jan (David) Thompson of Southaven, MS; Gayle (Dennis) Wofford of Olive Branch, MS and Paul (Jeanie) Stephenson of Olive Branch, MS. 10 Grandchildren: Tommy (Selena) Stephenson; Nick (Mikayla) Stephenson; Danielle (Gerard) Stephenson; Ben Wofford, Lela Wofford, Dixie Thompson, Ashley Thompson, William Stephenson, Mikki Stephenson and Joshua Stephenson. 6 Great Grandchildren: MacKenzie, Joey, Zach, Caleb, Luke and Jesse. She also leaves her sister LaVerne Bell of Springfield, OR, Sister-in-laws, Ruth Ferrell of Concord, CA and Frances Ferrell of Midwest City, OK, a lifelong friend, Eva Donaldson of Bartlett, TN and many nieces and nephews, numerous relatives and friends.
Visitation will be a held at Gracewood Baptist Church in Southaven, MS on Wednesday, June 7, beginning at 10:30 am. Memorial service will begin at 12 noon followed by burial at Forest Hill Midtown in Memphis, TN. In lieu of flowers please make donations to Gracewood Baptist Church, Methodist Hospice, or St. Jude Children''s Research Hospital.