Benson, NC: Mrs. Thurma Evans Stephenson, age 92, of Old Fairground Road passed away peacefully on February 9, 2026 at the SECU Hospice House of UNC Johnston in Smithfield, surrounded by her loving family. Funeral Services will be held at 2:00 pm Friday, February 13, 2026 at Rose and Graham Funeral Home in Benson. The family will receive friends from 1:00 pm to 1:45 pm prior to the service. Officiating will be Pastor Chris Searles and Pastor Hugo Zacarias. Burial will follow at the Johnson Memorial Freewill Baptist Church Cemetery in Angier.

Mrs. Stephenson was born September 10, 1933 in Person County, NC to the late Eugene Lacy and Betty Stone Evans. Along with her parents, she is preceded in death by her husband, James Graham Stephenson, her son, James Ray Stephenson, and brothers, Eugene Evans, Tom Evans, Jack Evans, and sisters, Elizabeth Evans, Verna Wilburn, Musette Hawkins, Gloria Matthews, and Shirley Holland.

Thurma graduated from Benson High School 1951. She married her sweetheart Graham and began her career as a farmer’s wife until Uncle Sam called Graham into the Army via the Korean War draft. They moved to Texas for the two years of his service. Once back home in North Carolina, Thurma worked at International Paper Company in Raleigh for 22 years. She was a founding member of the West Johnston Volunteer Fire Department Ladies Auxiliary. She was a faithful Christian and a member of Johnson Memorial Free Will Baptist Church in Angier. In her better days, she loved gardening, trips with friends, and mowing grass and mulching leaves with “Little Green.” She was a loving wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, aunt, and loyal friend to many. She will be fondly remembered and very missed.

Survivors include her daughter, Tammy S. Stanley and husband Randy, daughter-in-law, Tammy B. Stephenson, grandson, Jonathan Ashley Stanley, granddaughters, Sierra Stephenson, Valerie Stephenson and husband Jeff, great-grandchildren, Asher Stanley, Casey Baird, Ava Stephenson, Taylor Turner, Ayden Turner, Maddux Stephenson and Anakin James Stephenson, all of Benson. Her brother, Billy Evans of Richmond, VA., and many close nieces and nephews and their families. Everyone she knew was a treasured friend, including the remaining “Golden Girls,” Eunice Peterson, Brenda Spivey, and Betty Hamilton.

Flowers are welcome; however, memorial donations may be made to SECU Hospice House of UNC Johnston in Smithfield, NC, in memory of Mrs. Thurma E. Stephenson. The family greatly appreciates the wonderful and compassionate care provided by every single individual at the SECU Hospice House.

The family appreciates every kindness and thoughts and prayers during this time.