Betty Berry Stephenson, 93, died Sept. 8, 2017, at St. Vincent’s Hospital in Middleburg of complications resulting from a fall. She was born in Atlanta on Aug. 23, 1924, to Walter and Elizabeth Berry.
In 1931, her family moved to Jacksonville. Betty graduated in 1942 from Landon High School, where she was a cheerleader and was also involved in numerous other clubs. She attended the University of Alabama (“Roll Tide!”) where she was a member of the Alpha Chi Omega sorority.
She was a longtime member of Community Presbyterian Church in Atlantic Beach and resided in Ponte Vedra Beach until 2004, when her house was destroyed by fire in the aftermath of a hurricane.
In addition to her parents, Betty was preceded in death by her brother, Walter Berry, Jr.; her husband, John F. Stephenson and her grandson, Christian Stephenson. She is survived by her sons, Lawrence (Patricia) Stephenson of Middleburg and John W. (Sandy) Stephenson of Hawthorne; her grandchildren, Kimberly (William, III) Huether, John E. Stephenson, II (fiancée, Iulia Istrati), Joshua Stephenson (fiancée, Ann Wanserski) and Jennifer Stephenson (David Roberts) and great grandchildren, Katherine, Kristen, William, IV and Sarah Huether, Hailey and Christian, II, Stephenson and Amelia and John T. Stephenson.
A graveside service was held Sept. 16 at Oaklawn Cemetery in Jacksonville. Please visit her memorial page at www.williamsthomasfuneralhome.com. For further information, contact Williams-Thomas Downtown at (352) 376-7556.
