U.S. Army Lt. Colonel Chaplain Douglas Ray Stephenson, Retired, age 77, of Cedartown, GA, passed away on Thursday, February 8, 2024, at his residence.
Doug was born in Pasadena, Texas on January 14, 1947, son of the late Clifton Ray Stephenson and the late Doris Eloise Ainsworth Stephenson. Doug retired from the U.S. Army in 1992 following 20 years of service during the Vietnam War and the Gulf War. He served as a Paratrooper with the 82 Airborne Division 1st in 504th Airborne Infantry Regiment 82nd Airborne Division and the 325 Airborne Infantry Regiment of the 82nd Airborne Division. He also served as Chaplain for the US Army Special Forces Command Airborne and the 5th Special Forces Group Airborne at Ft. Bragg, NC, commonly known as the Green Berets.
Doug was a minister with the Church of God of Prophecy and had served as Pastor for eight churches in Kentucky, Oklahoma, and Georgia. He was currently a member of the Church of God of Prophecy in Douglasville, GA. Doug was a member of the V.F.W. Post #4911 and the D.A.V. where he had helped numerous veterans obtain disability benefits.
Survivors include his wife, Judith Brooks Stephenson; a daughter, Amanda Owen (Bryan); a son, David Stephenson (Tina); eight grandchildren, Andrew Owen (Katie), USAF Cpt. Hayden Owen (Miranda), Peyton Owen, Emma Kate Owen; Jaden Stephenson (Audrey Faulk), Anna Stephenson, Reagan Stephenson, and Leigha Stephenson; one great grandson, Eli Owen; three sisters, Molly Wyatt, Colleen Womack, and Donna Brogdon; numerous nieces, nephews, cousins, and other relatives.
Funeral services will be held on Wednesday, February 14, 2024, at 10am at Victory Baptist Church, 15 Hendrix Road, Rockmart, GA, with Dr. Larry Lowery and U.S. Army Colonel Chaplain Ron Crews, Retired officiating. Interment will follow in Chattanooga National Cemetery at 2pm with the American Legion Post #5 Honor Guard presenting military honors.
The family will receive friends at Henderson & Sons Funeral Home, South Chapel, on Tuesday from 5 until 7pm.
Pallbearers are asked to assemble at Victory Baptist Church on Wednesday at 9:30am and include Andrew Owen, Peyton Owen, Jaden Stephenson, Kellan Fisher, Daniel Duvall, and Rob Brooks.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made in Doug’s memory to the V.F.W. Post #4911.
Henderson & Sons Funeral Home, South Chapel, has charge of the arrangements.
