James Lamar Stephens

James L. (Jim) Stephens died peacefully on October 12 of complications from Parkinson's Disease and Lewy Body Dementia. Jim was a devoted husband and father. In the years before his illnesses, he could often be found accompanying his wife Carla to LFO and Heritage High School events. Over the years, he shuttled his son Adam to many golf tournaments, and they later went into business together. He watched his daughter Laura keep statistics for the GPS basketball team, then later traveled to hear her preach and to play with her son Levi.

Jim was a 1964 graduate of Lakeview High School and a 1969 graduate of the University of Chattanooga. Before his retirement, Jim was a member of the Chattanooga area business community, and he spent most of his professional life expanding and running P & S School & Office Supply, the family business. He was active in Rotary Club and participated in Leadership Chattanooga.

Jim was preceded in death by his parents, J.C. and Evelyn Stephens, and his beloved granddog Eli. He is survived by his wife Carla Morgan Stephens, daughter Laura Stephens-Reed (Matt Reed), son Adam Stephens, grandson Levi Reed, brother Jerry Stephens (Connie), sister Elaine Davis (Jimmy), and one niece and several nephews.

Visitation will be held Saturday from 11 a.m. -1:00 p.m. at Heritage Funeral Home on Battlefield Parkway, with a celebration of life officiated by Rev. Tony Leonard and Michael Prettyman at 1:00. Jim was blessed for most of his life by the following honorary pallbearers, a constant group of friends (and later their spouses) who found one another many years ago: Con Kellerhals (Beth), David Wells (Susan), Chip Liner (Judy), Butch Hannah (Kathy), Gene Ezell (Cindy), Joe Hearn (Susan), and the late Mack Hannah (Pattie).

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made in Jim's memory to the Catoosa County Children’s Fund or the building fund at GraceWorks Church.

Visit www.heritagebattlefield.com to share condolences with the family and view memorial tribute.

Special thanks to the incredible care-givers at the Canopy, Christie Moore, nurse practitioner, Ashley and the rest of the staff at Tapestry Hospice, and Dr. David Elias.

Arrangements by Heritage Funeral Home & Crematory, Battlefield Parkway.

To send flowers to the family, please visit our floral store.