William was the only son of John and Dollie Stephenson. A large man known as Willie, he worked as a traveling salesman and district sales manager in the Memphis area for the Shefford Cheese Co. of Green Bay, Wis., for 40 years. He also worked for Delighted Jams and Jellies.
He married Alamo, Tenn., native Frankie Tucker in 1909. They had five children, Lottie, Johnnie, James, Everett and Laura. The first four were born in Crockett County. It's unclear where Laura was born. She died as an infant.
"To me, he was a great guy," said his daughter-in-law Wilma Stephenson in May 2008. "Mrs. Stephenson was very domineering, but I always got along real good with him. … Mr. Stephenson was very caring. He worked hard." His work paid off. The family moved to Memphis in about 1917.
In 1920, they were renting a house, but by the 1930 Census they owned a home worth about $6,000 on North Garland Street. "During the Depression, he made good money," Wilma Stephenson recalled. "They lived high on the hog." Eventually, they moved to 788 N. Merton in Memphis. "He was a big-mouthed guy," recalled his grandson, Michael R. Stephenson in April 2008. "He used to say, ‘Everybody loves a fat man.'" Willie's niece Mignonne (Cates) Evans had a similar recollection in May 2008: "He was an enormous man and could eat like a horse."
William had health issues for many years. Some of it was heart related, but he also became bloated, his legs swelling and oozing fluid. He retired in about 1952, dying a year later. Frankie saved a sash that appeared on his coffin. It read "Daddy," and then she wrote, "gone but never will I for get (sic) you Sweet Heart. I did my best to make you comfortable Frankie Died Sept 3-1953 Buried on 5th." He is buried at Elmwood Cemetery in Memphis.
Obituary
Sept. 4, 1953, Memphis Commercial Appeal:
Services for William N. Stephenson, retired food salesman who died at 2:20 yesterday morning at his home, 788 North Merton, will be held at 2 tomorrow afternoon at National Funeral Home. Burial will be in Elmwood.
Mr. Stephenson was 63. He retired a year ago after traveling the Memphis area 40 years for the Shefford Cheese Co. of Green Bay, Wis., and Preserves, Ind., of St. Louis.
He was born in Alamo, Tenn., and lived in Crockett County before moving to Memphis about 36 years ago. He was a member of the Travelers Protective Association. He was a Methodist.
He leaves his wife, Mrs. Frankie Stephenson; two sons, James R. Stephenson of Memphis and Master Sgt. E.B. Stephenson, an instructor at Clemson College, S.C.; two daughters, Mrs. Johnnie Whitaker of Memphis and Mrs. John C. Smith of Stuttgart, Ark.; his mother, Mrs. Dolly Taylor of Memphis, and three sisters, Mrs. Katy Edwards and Mrs. I.A. Cates of Memphis and Mrs. Ethel Ball of Alamo.
He married Alamo, Tenn., native Frankie Tucker in 1909. They had five children, Lottie, Johnnie, James, Everett and Laura. The first four were born in Crockett County. It's unclear where Laura was born. She died as an infant.
"To me, he was a great guy," said his daughter-in-law Wilma Stephenson in May 2008. "Mrs. Stephenson was very domineering, but I always got along real good with him. … Mr. Stephenson was very caring. He worked hard." His work paid off. The family moved to Memphis in about 1917.
In 1920, they were renting a house, but by the 1930 Census they owned a home worth about $6,000 on North Garland Street. "During the Depression, he made good money," Wilma Stephenson recalled. "They lived high on the hog." Eventually, they moved to 788 N. Merton in Memphis. "He was a big-mouthed guy," recalled his grandson, Michael R. Stephenson in April 2008. "He used to say, ‘Everybody loves a fat man.'" Willie's niece Mignonne (Cates) Evans had a similar recollection in May 2008: "He was an enormous man and could eat like a horse."
William had health issues for many years. Some of it was heart related, but he also became bloated, his legs swelling and oozing fluid. He retired in about 1952, dying a year later. Frankie saved a sash that appeared on his coffin. It read "Daddy," and then she wrote, "gone but never will I for get (sic) you Sweet Heart. I did my best to make you comfortable Frankie Died Sept 3-1953 Buried on 5th." He is buried at Elmwood Cemetery in Memphis.
Obituary
Sept. 4, 1953, Memphis Commercial Appeal:
Services for William N. Stephenson, retired food salesman who died at 2:20 yesterday morning at his home, 788 North Merton, will be held at 2 tomorrow afternoon at National Funeral Home. Burial will be in Elmwood.
Mr. Stephenson was 63. He retired a year ago after traveling the Memphis area 40 years for the Shefford Cheese Co. of Green Bay, Wis., and Preserves, Ind., of St. Louis.
He was born in Alamo, Tenn., and lived in Crockett County before moving to Memphis about 36 years ago. He was a member of the Travelers Protective Association. He was a Methodist.
He leaves his wife, Mrs. Frankie Stephenson; two sons, James R. Stephenson of Memphis and Master Sgt. E.B. Stephenson, an instructor at Clemson College, S.C.; two daughters, Mrs. Johnnie Whitaker of Memphis and Mrs. John C. Smith of Stuttgart, Ark.; his mother, Mrs. Dolly Taylor of Memphis, and three sisters, Mrs. Katy Edwards and Mrs. I.A. Cates of Memphis and Mrs. Ethel Ball of Alamo.
William was the only son of John and Dollie Stephenson. A large man known as Willie, he worked as a traveling salesman and district sales manager in the Memphis area for the Shefford Cheese Co. of Green Bay, Wis., for 40 years. He also worked for Delighted Jams and Jellies.
He married Alamo, Tenn., native Frankie Tucker in 1909. They had five children, Lottie, Johnnie, James, Everett and Laura. The first four were born in Crockett County. It's unclear where Laura was born. She died as an infant.
"To me, he was a great guy," said his daughter-in-law Wilma Stephenson in May 2008. "Mrs. Stephenson was very domineering, but I always got along real good with him. … Mr. Stephenson was very caring. He worked hard." His work paid off. The family moved to Memphis in about 1917.
In 1920, they were renting a house, but by the 1930 Census they owned a home worth about $6,000 on North Garland Street. "During the Depression, he made good money," Wilma Stephenson recalled. "They lived high on the hog." Eventually, they moved to 788 N. Merton in Memphis. "He was a big-mouthed guy," recalled his grandson, Michael R. Stephenson in April 2008. "He used to say, ‘Everybody loves a fat man.'" Willie's niece Mignonne (Cates) Evans had a similar recollection in May 2008: "He was an enormous man and could eat like a horse."
William had health issues for many years. Some of it was heart related, but he also became bloated, his legs swelling and oozing fluid. He retired in about 1952, dying a year later. Frankie saved a sash that appeared on his coffin. It read "Daddy," and then she wrote, "gone but never will I for get (sic) you Sweet Heart. I did my best to make you comfortable Frankie Died Sept 3-1953 Buried on 5th." He is buried at Elmwood Cemetery in Memphis.
Obituary
Sept. 4, 1953, Memphis Commercial Appeal:
Services for William N. Stephenson, retired food salesman who died at 2:20 yesterday morning at his home, 788 North Merton, will be held at 2 tomorrow afternoon at National Funeral Home. Burial will be in Elmwood.
Mr. Stephenson was 63. He retired a year ago after traveling the Memphis area 40 years for the Shefford Cheese Co. of Green Bay, Wis., and Preserves, Ind., of St. Louis.
He was born in Alamo, Tenn., and lived in Crockett County before moving to Memphis about 36 years ago. He was a member of the Travelers Protective Association. He was a Methodist.
He leaves his wife, Mrs. Frankie Stephenson; two sons, James R. Stephenson of Memphis and Master Sgt. E.B. Stephenson, an instructor at Clemson College, S.C.; two daughters, Mrs. Johnnie Whitaker of Memphis and Mrs. John C. Smith of Stuttgart, Ark.; his mother, Mrs. Dolly Taylor of Memphis, and three sisters, Mrs. Katy Edwards and Mrs. I.A. Cates of Memphis and Mrs. Ethel Ball of Alamo.
He married Alamo, Tenn., native Frankie Tucker in 1909. They had five children, Lottie, Johnnie, James, Everett and Laura. The first four were born in Crockett County. It's unclear where Laura was born. She died as an infant.
"To me, he was a great guy," said his daughter-in-law Wilma Stephenson in May 2008. "Mrs. Stephenson was very domineering, but I always got along real good with him. … Mr. Stephenson was very caring. He worked hard." His work paid off. The family moved to Memphis in about 1917.
In 1920, they were renting a house, but by the 1930 Census they owned a home worth about $6,000 on North Garland Street. "During the Depression, he made good money," Wilma Stephenson recalled. "They lived high on the hog." Eventually, they moved to 788 N. Merton in Memphis. "He was a big-mouthed guy," recalled his grandson, Michael R. Stephenson in April 2008. "He used to say, ‘Everybody loves a fat man.'" Willie's niece Mignonne (Cates) Evans had a similar recollection in May 2008: "He was an enormous man and could eat like a horse."
William had health issues for many years. Some of it was heart related, but he also became bloated, his legs swelling and oozing fluid. He retired in about 1952, dying a year later. Frankie saved a sash that appeared on his coffin. It read "Daddy," and then she wrote, "gone but never will I for get (sic) you Sweet Heart. I did my best to make you comfortable Frankie Died Sept 3-1953 Buried on 5th." He is buried at Elmwood Cemetery in Memphis.
Obituary
Sept. 4, 1953, Memphis Commercial Appeal:
Services for William N. Stephenson, retired food salesman who died at 2:20 yesterday morning at his home, 788 North Merton, will be held at 2 tomorrow afternoon at National Funeral Home. Burial will be in Elmwood.
Mr. Stephenson was 63. He retired a year ago after traveling the Memphis area 40 years for the Shefford Cheese Co. of Green Bay, Wis., and Preserves, Ind., of St. Louis.
He was born in Alamo, Tenn., and lived in Crockett County before moving to Memphis about 36 years ago. He was a member of the Travelers Protective Association. He was a Methodist.
He leaves his wife, Mrs. Frankie Stephenson; two sons, James R. Stephenson of Memphis and Master Sgt. E.B. Stephenson, an instructor at Clemson College, S.C.; two daughters, Mrs. Johnnie Whitaker of Memphis and Mrs. John C. Smith of Stuttgart, Ark.; his mother, Mrs. Dolly Taylor of Memphis, and three sisters, Mrs. Katy Edwards and Mrs. I.A. Cates of Memphis and Mrs. Ethel Ball of Alamo.
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