Henderson County Now

Funeral services for Billy Boyce, 38, of Athens are scheduled for 2 p.m., Monday, September 17, 2018 at the Athens Church of God. Interment will follow at Oaklawn Memorial Park in Athens.

Billy Boyce passed away on September 11, 2018 in Athens.

Billy Boyce Jr. was born November 5, 1979 in Athens, Texas the son of Billy Boyce Sr. and Tracy Louise Baker Boyce. He attended the Athens Church of God and one of the things he greatly enjoyed doing was preaching. There was never a time when Billy wasn’t trying to make people smile and he was known as a hard worker. He loved his family dearly, especially his little brother Michael and his nieces and nephews.

Billy is preceded by his maternal grandparents, Ernest and Betty Baker and his paternal grandfather Franklin Boyce.

He is survived by his parents Billy and Tracy Boyce of Athens; one brother Michael Boyce and wife Savannah of Athens; two nieces and two nephews, Logan Boyce, Jasmin Boyce, Cash Boyce, Graceland Boyce all of Athens and numerous aunts, uncles, and cousins.

Visitation will be held from 2 p.m. Friday, September 14, 2018 until Monday, September 17, 2018 at the Athens Church of God.

Serving as pallbearers: John Young, Clifton Acker, Andy Bourland, Johnny Cooper, James Curry, Freddie Baker and Randy Davis.

Funeral arrangements were entrusted to the Hannigan Smith Funeral Home family.

You may light a candle or write condolences to the family at www.hannigansmith.com.

Walter Jerry Stephenson, 87, passed away on September 3, 2018. Graveside services will be held at 3 p.m. September 16, 2018 at Oaklawn Memorial Park, Athens under the direction of Autry’s Carroll-Lehr Funeral Home.

He will lie next to his beloved wife of 51 years, Nancy Morgan Stephenson, who preceded him. They were both loved and will be truly missed.

Jerry is survived by his sons Lane and Jay and their respective wives Debbie and Nancy, along with his four grandchildren, Taylor, Morgan, Chandler and Jake, all of whom he was able to watch grow into fine young adults.

He touched countless lives through his work as a hospital administrator and a restaurant owner, as well as during his service in the U.S. Navy during the Korean War, his time on the Shreveport Fire Department and as a Scoutmaster with the Boy Scouts. Jerry’s passions were woodworking, charcoal grilling, John Wayne movies and a good Hank Williams song. When he proposed to his college sweetheart Nancy told Jerry that she did not believe in long engagements, and he said he did not believe in short marriages. Now they are finally together again- and this time it’s forever.