Morris Gilmore Stephenson

Morris Gilmore Stephenson, age 81 of Ferrum passed away Thursday, October 19, 2017 He is preceded in death by Hazel Elizabeth, his loving wife of 29 years, and his parents, Clarence and Frances Stephenson of Marion, VA, step-grandsons Andrew Huff and Phillip Peters. Surviving are his sister, Sandra Archer of Peoria, AZ, and brother Stafford (Tess) Stephenson of High Point, NC and Chincoteague, Va.; sons Mike (Donna) Stephenson of Rutherfordton, NC, and Dr. Kurt (Lisa) Stephenson of Blacksburg, VA two daughters, Kimberly Bentley of Mars Hill, NC and Kathy Stephenson of Roanoke, VA Hazel’s daughters, Debra (Charles) Huff of Ferrum, Polly Peters, Teresa (David) Patterson and Peggy (Roger) Brown, all of Rocky Mount; one sister-in-law, Louise Wheatley of Blairs, VA. Also surviving are six grandsons, Davis Stephenson of Charlotte, NC and Zeke (Holly) Stephenson of Rutherfordton, NC; Brandon and Blake Brown of Rocky Mount; Ty Stephenson of Blacksburg, VA and Austin Bentley of Mars Hill, NC; two step-granddaughters, Jennifer Holland (Patrick) of Ferrum, Blaire (James) Harville of Rocky Mount along with five step- great grandchildren, Logan Huff of Rocky Mount; Emma, Olivia, James and Maddie Holland of Ferrum. Morris excelled in four sports at Marion High School including his favorite, basketball during the time when the Scarlet Hurricane won the school's only state championship in 1952-53. After Lees-McRae Junior College in Banner Elk, N.C., he went to work as sports editor and general reporter/photographer for Jim and Gladys Tindall at "The Smyth County News" in Marion. "The Marion Democrat," a weekly newspaper owned by his grandfather, Gil Stephenson. The newspaper was sold before Morris was born to internationally-known author Sherwood Anderson. It was Anderson who combined the paper with "The Smyth County News" in the early 1930s. Morris did have the pleasure of being friends and classmates with Anderson's two granddaughters, Margaret and Isbet. He worked for "The Salem Times Register," Pearisburg' s "Virginian-Leader," and was co-owner of "The Carroll News" in Hillsville before selling the paper and going to work for Kermit "Red" Salyer's 'The Franklin News-Post." Morris left the newspaper profession in 1982 after seven years as tri-owner of "The Franklin County Times" where he served as editor/publisher. The newspaper was sold to "The Martinsville Bulletin."Morris was a member of the first Franklin County Recreation Commission representing the Boone District. For years he coached the Boones Mill Elementary School's Dolphins sandlot football team and the elementary school's Mod-U-Kraft Homes basketball team. Years later, he coached two youth divisions of recreation department basketball. For 17 years, he made a living in the stock car racing profession serving as publicity, public relations and marketing director for Franklin County Speedway in Callaway, Natural Bridge Speedway, Log Cabin Raceway in Rocky Mount and Pulaski County Speedway when it was totally rebuilt and opened in 1988. He remained at Pulaski when it was sold and became known as New River Valley Speedway, now Motor Mile Speedway in Radford. He ended his racing career in 1999 after serving as promoter/general manager for Lonesome Pine International Raceway in Coeburn, owned by the late Russell Large and his family. That year he returned to 'The Franklin News-Post" as a photo journalist in addition to selling advertisements. He penned a popular weekly column "Down the River" that also grew in readership with the advent of the internet. Morris was among the first recreational paddlers in Franklin County and became easily recognizable in his Toyota 4Runner, known as "Goldie," carrying around two black Blue Hole canoes latched to the roof rack. He and Scott Martin, then Franklin County recreation director, were instrumental in restarting the "Pigg River Ramble Canoe Race and Leisure Float" in 2002 with the town's Community Partnership for Revitalization (CPR). The event had been dormant for 20 years. As a result of the successful first event, Al Flora started "Blackout on the Blackwater," a Friday night event that followed by a third "Breakfast on the Blackwater" Sunday morning after Saturday's Ramble making it the weekend attraction. It has now become the 'Pigg River Ramble Weekend." Morris, Martin and Flora were instrumental in forming the "Creak Freaks Paddlers Club of Franklin County, which grew in membership to include adults, teenagers as well as young children. In 2005, Morris was presented Franklin County Chamber of Commerce's coveted "Marshall L. Flora Man of the Year" award, the Rocky Mount Rotary Club's Paul Harris Fellowship and the Franklin County United Way's "Spark Plug" award. He also was honored on his 80 ^th birthday by the newspaper as the Town of Rocky Mount proclaimed the honor. In 1992, Morris joined Dick Thompson, the late vice president of Martinsville Speedway, to produce a "table-top" book "From Dust to Glory: A 45-Year-History of Martinsville Speedway and Founder H. Clay Earles." In late 2011 Stephenson's book "A Night of Makin' Likker and Other Stories from the Moonshine Capital of the World" was published. As a result of the book, he and his moonshine photographs received recognition on the popular weekly international television show, "The Moonshiners," He also combined forces to produce a book in 2016 entitled "Franklin County's Famous Moonshine Trial". In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to the Donna Sink Pediatric Fund, c/o Teresa Hodges Treasurer 60 Ashpone Tavern Rd. Rocky Mount, VA 24151. A memorial service will be held in his honor Sunday, October 29, 2017 from 1-3 p.m. at The Harvester. Arrangements by Flora Funeral Service and Cremation Center, Rocky Mount.