James Vernon Stephenson

James Vernon “Jim” “JV” Stephenson, Command Sergeant Major, U.S. Army (Ret.), passed away on June 4, 2026. He was preceded in death by his wife of 59 years, Jo Ann (Horton) Stephenson.

Jim is survived by his son, Gary Allen Stephenson of Fayetteville, NC; his daughter, Donna Jo Stephenson of Willow Spring, NC; and many beloved family members and friends.

Born October 31, 1939, in Maysville, KY, Jim grew up there and graduated from Orangeburg High School in 1958. He was active in student life as the musical editor of the school newspaper and starting forward on the basketball team, helping lead them to a division championship.

Jim enlisted in the U.S. Army in 1959, beginning a distinguished 20+ year career marked by exceptional dedication and leadership. He served in elite and highly technical units and battalions including the 313th and 402nd SOD of the Army Security Agency, 10th Special Forces Group (Europe) and 5th Special Forces Group (Vietnam), and multiple Military Intelligence Brigades such as the 313th MI Battalion, 358th MI Battalion, and 525th MI Brigade. Rising through every enlisted rank, he ultimately achieved the Army’s highest noncommissioned rank of Command Sergeant Major, a testament to his discipline, integrity, and unwavering commitment to his soldiers.

A two-tour Vietnam War veteran, Jim was decorated for valor and meritorious service, earning numerous commendations including the Bronze Star Medal, Vietnam Cross of Gallantry, Meritorious Service Medal, Army Commendation Medal, and multiple campaign and service ribbons. He was deeply proud of his service, the soldiers he trained and mentored, and the units he helped shape.

In 1962, Jim met the love of his life, Jo Ann Horton, in Myrtle Beach, SC. They married on November 9, 1962, beginning a lifetime of adventure as a military family, traveling the world with their two children. After retiring from the Army in 1984, Jim enjoyed a successful second career with F&P Foods, serving 12 years as a regional manager overseeing multiple Burger Kings, Jersey Mike’s, and Popeyes locations across eastern North Carolina. He later continued his leadership in hospitality as a manager at Texas Roadhouse in Fayetteville before fully retiring to enjoy more than two decades of family, friends, and well-earned rest.

Jim loved sports, as a player, coach, and referee. A certified official with the NCHSAA, he officiated high school football, basketball, and softball games across eastern North Carolina, as well as youth leagues at Fort Bragg. He enjoyed tennis, golf, softball, horseshoes, and long bike rides. He also authored and published a unit history, "313th Military Intelligence Battalion (Airborne), 82nd Airborne Division: A History", preserving the legacy of the of the soldiers he once led.

Above all, Jim loved life, his wife, and children. He never met a stranger, never missed a chance to laugh, and never passed up an opportunity to gather with family and friends, especially around the pool or the grill. He was a self-made man with a “can-do” spirit, a bright outlook, a gift for bringing joy wherever he went and a deep love for family and friends.

The family will receive friends on Thursday, June 25, 2026, from 7–9 p.m. at Rogers & Breece Funeral Home. A funeral service with full military honors will be held at 2 p.m. on Friday, June 26, 2026, at Sandhills State Veterans Cemetery. Family and friends may gather at the funeral home on Friday, June 26, from 11:30am-1:00pm to pay their final respects and join the procession to the cemetery.  

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital or Wounded Warrior Project in Jim’s honor.

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