Martha Dickson Stephenson

Martha Dickson Stephenson, 99, wife of the late William Kennan Stephenson, passed away on Monday, March 2, 2026. Born in Opelika, Alabama in 1927, Martha was the youngest of four daughters of Thomas Louis Dickson and Mittie Laney Dickson. Her father owned a hardware store in Opelika. She had an idyllic childhood and graduated in 1947 from the University of Alabama where she was a perennial beauty queen and a proud Kappa Delta.

At the age of 21, she met the love of her life, William K. Stephenson (Bill). Bill was in the Opelika area working for West Point Manufacturing and they married in 1950. Martha and Bill lived in Greenville and were married for over 65 years.

Martha was a faithful member of Christ Church Episcopal. She was also active in the Junior League of Greenville, National Society of the Colonial Dames of America (South Carolina), National Society Daughters of the American Revolution, The Tuesday Study Club, and many garden clubs. She was a lifelong reader and learner. She was fluent in French, Spanish and German. For many years, Martha loved playing tennis at Greenville Valley Country Club and the Greenville Country Club. Martha was an excellent gardener and had large rose gardens on Lakecrest Drive and Paris Mountain. She enjoyed sharing her roses with many community civic organizations. Martha was an avid University of Alabama fan and rarely missed a game even up until the year of her death. Martha was always joyful, and a loving wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother.

Surviving are her four sons, Keenan Stephenson (Caroline), Tom Stephenson (Dianne), Harry Stephenson and John Stephenson (Stephanie), as well as by her nine grandchildren, Allen (Patricia), Laney (Santi), Scot (Tom), Hal (Dustii), Bruce (Olivia), Ramsey (Anna), McLeod (Jonathan), Hal Miley (Alison) and Callie Miley. She is also survived by seven great grandchildren, soon to be ten.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Bill, her fifth son, Daniel McLeod, and her three sisters Mittie Dickson, Jane Dickson Lanier, and Nancy Dickson Shivers. The family gives special thanks to her caregivers who were instrumental in making her life happy the last few years: Summer Ellenberg, Cathy Rozier, Karen Matheny, Debbie Waits, Susan Baird, and Irma Osequra.

In lieu of flowers, the family wishes memorials be made to Christ Church Episcopal or a charity of one’s choice.

A private graveside funeral is planned on Thursday, March 5, 2026.

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