Pastor Daniel Stephenson

Pastor Daniel Stephenson went home to be with the Lord he loved on Monday, March 2, 2015. He was 85 years old. Born May 4, 1929, he was a son of the late Henry and Mollie Stephenson. He attended school at Emma High School. He entered the military service during the Korean War, January 17, 1951, and served with the 372nd E.A.B. He was discharged as Staff Sgt. He worked for Hayes and Lunsford Electric Motor Repair for some 35 years, prior to retirement in July, 1991. He was saved February 5, 1957, believing Romans 5:12 - "wherefore as by one man, sin entered into the world, and death by sin. And so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned." Romans 5:8 - "But God commendeth His love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us." Romans 10:9-10 - "That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God raised Him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness. And with the mouth, confession is made unto Salvation." He pastored churches in Haywood and Buncombe Counties, to include Bingham Heights Baptist Church, Maple Grove Baptist Church, Beulah Baptist Church and Aaron Baptist Church, which gave to the support of fifty-plus missionaries. His education consisted of Moody Bible Institute, Trinity Theological Seminary in Newburg, Indiana, plus many great contemporaries. A lover of the Great Commission, "Go ye into all the world and preach the Gospel" - Mark 16:15. He is survived by his wife, the former Betty Jo Oliver, married January 13, 1951, of 64 years. He leaves four children, daughters, Teresa Beeman and husband Roger, and Corliss Wolff; sons, Roger Stephenson and Tim Stephenson and wife Kim; 5 grandchildren; and one great-grandchild. He was preceded in death by one son. Funeral services will be held on Friday at 3:00 p.m. in the Patton Ave. chapel of Groce Funeral Home, with the Rev. Jeff Massey officiating. Interment will follow at the Bethel Baptist Church Cemetery. The family will receive friends one hour prior to the service. The family expresses special thanks to granddaughter Meggan for her special love and care, and to CarePartners Hospice. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Missions Fund, c/o Good News Baptist Church, 1953 Smoky Park Highway, Candler, NC 28715.