Mr. G. Darrell Stephens, age 74, beloved husband of Phyllis Harrell Stephens of Soperton passed away on Tuesday evening, September 8, 2020 at Fairview Park Hospital in Dublin, Georgia.

Born in Laurens County, he was the only child born to the late Henry Grable and Georgia Mae Snell Stephens. Mr. Stephens grew up in various locales around the nation, with his father's military career, to include, Macon, San Diego, New Mexico and Hawaii. During his first year in college in Hawaii he came to live with an aunt in Soperton and continued his education at Georgia Southern in Statesboro. While attending Georgia Southern he was reintroduced to Soperton native, Phyllis Harrell, that would become the love of his life and his wife in June of 1968.   He earned his Bachelor Degree before attending Officer's Candidate School and serving in the Unites States Navy. After his military service, Mr. Stephens completed his Masters Degree in Business Management. After graduating with his MBA he joined Morris State Bank in Dublin where he remained until 1978. In 1978 he began a long career with State Farm Insurance that spanned thirty years until retiring as Agency Manager in 2008. For many years he worked helping family members setting up and settling estate and financial matters. Mr. Stephens loved helping others and daily meeting his friends for breakfast, sharing news at the post office and driving others to needed appointments. His life was centered around his family, his church, his friends and spoiling his grandchildren.

He was a founding member of the Anchor of Hope Worship Center where he served on the finance committee and as financial advisor to the pastor and leadership council. Mr. Stephens served on the Board for the Treutlen County Health and Rehabilitation Center, the Soperton Public Housing Authority and was a member of the Soperton Lions Club.

Mr. Stephens leaves behind, his wife of 52 years, Phyllis Harrell Stephens, Soperton, GA; their two daughters, Phaedra McLendon (Bart), Soperton, GA; Desha LeDuc (Michael), Cumming, GA; his mother- in-law, Evelyn Moore Harrell, Soperton, GA; grandchildren, Kaeli Sherman (Trenton), Brunswick, GA; Kathleen LeDuc, Budapest, Hungary; Samantha LeDuc, Knoxville, TN; Will Garner, Atlanta, GA; Claire Luke, Cumming, GA; special nieces and nephews, Janica Peavey (Jordan), Jarrett Walden (Erin), Dustin Mimbs (Jamie), several great nieces and nephews, and cousins, Linda Collins, Statesboro, GA; Stephen Hall, Marietta, GA; Charles Stephens, Longwood, FL and Regis Sammons, Adrian, GA.

Funeral services will be conducted at 11:00 am on Friday, September 11, 2020 at the Anchor of Hope Worship Center, 2292 College Street, Soperton, Georgia with Pastor Gilbert Posey and Reverend Milton Thomas officiating.  Services will be live streaming on the Anchor of Hope Worship Center facebook page and on the Gilbert Posey facebook page.

Mr. Stephens will lie in state, on Friday, at the church, beginning at 8:30 a.m. where his family will receive friends from 9:30 until the hour of service. Friends may also call at the residence.

Mr. Stephens will be laid to rest beside his parents in Westview Cemetery.

Serving as pallbearers will be: Kirk Harrell, Dustin Mimbs, Jarrett Walden, Jordan Peavey, Trenton Sherman and Will Garner.

Facial coverings are requested for visitors calling at the residence and will be required of all attendees at the Anchor of Hope Worship Center.

If so desired, memorial contributions may be made in his memory to the Children's Healthcare Network of Atlanta, Scottish Rite Hospital, 1001 Johnson Ferry Rd NE, Atlanta, GA 30342 or to Anchor of Hope Worship Center, P.O. Box 45, Soperton, GA 30457

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SAMMONS FUNERAL HOME, The Tradition Since 1917, Soperton, Georgia