Goldie Winston Stephens

Goldie Winston Stephens, age 72, of Dalton, Georgia passed away Friday, May 20, 2016. He was born on July 18, 1943 in Dalton, GA. He is the son of the late Oscar Goldie Stephens and Myrtle Marsena. He lived in Dalton all of his life. He married Wanda Baggett on June 24, 1994 in Thomasville, GA. Some of his favorite activities were watching TV, reading, and going out to eat. He attended school at the Georgia School for the Deaf in Cave Springs, GA. He graduated in 1965. He then taught sign language class for fourteen years at Dalton College in Dalton, GA. He was a member of the Dalton SDA Church from 1968. He attended another church for some time because there was no one to interpret for him at Dalton. He met the Hands of Praise sign language group at Trinity UMC in 2000, and was so happy to know that they attended the Dalton SDA church. He approached Linda Smith and said that he would be returning to the Dalton Church. She asked who was going to interpret for him; he replied that she would because if she could do the songs, she could interpret for him. It was through that meeting that the relationship with the group grew into a loving friendship, as well as other people learning sign language and interpreting for him at church. Winston was a very patient teacher and showed a marvelous sense of humor in working with the group and other students. Winston enjoyed and supported the Southern Deaf Fellowship church since its beginning. He attended the services and camp meetings as often as he was able to; and was so pleased when they moved to McDonald, TN. He was president of both the Dalton Chapter 10 of Georgia Association for the Deaf and the Friendship Club. He was also in service for the Georgia Registry Interpreter of the Deaf in Atlanta, GA. He was a former member of the National Fraternal Society of the Deaf Division #140 in Chattanooga, TN. He received an award from the National Social Division #140 for Good Citizenship. Winston is survived by his wife Wanda, his three children Alice and her husband Anthony Montgomery, Wanda and her husband Louis Cotto, and son Benjamin (Benny) Stephens and his wife Lisa. He also had ten grandchildren and three great-grandchildren. He also leaves his sister-in-law Edna Stephens and her children, other family members and many other special friends and members from the Dalton Church family and the McDonald Church family who loved him. He was preceded by his father and mother Oscar Goldie Stephens and Myrtle Marsena and his brother Wendell. A funeral service to celebrate the life of Goldie Winston Stephens will be held at 2:00 PM Sunday, May 22, 2016 at the SDA Church in Dalton, GA with Pastor Chester Clark and Jeff Jordan officiating. Interment will be at West Hill Cemetery. The family will be receiving friends for visitation from 5-9 PM on Saturday evening at the funeral home. He will lay in state at the church an hour prior to the service. Arrangements have been entrusted to independently owned and operated Dalton Funeral Home, 620 S. Glenwood Ave. Dalton, GA; 706-529-5371.