Shirley Carter Stevens

Shirley Carter Stevens went home to be with Jesus Christ, her Lord and savior on Saturday, December 6, 2025.

Shirley was preceded in death by her husband, Donald G. Stevens; her parents Lucy B. and Roldolph D. Carter; her brothers Jimmy Carter, of Atlanta, GA, and Harvey L. Carter of Boaz, AL; and her sister, Genevieve Carter of Warsaw, NC.

Shirley is survived by her daughters, Lou Sweeney (Dan) of Seagrove, NC, Linda McDonald of Hope Mills, NC, Lisa Crawford (Jan) of Sylva, NC; her sister, Annie Lou Larson of Water Valley, MS; her grandson, Jacob Sherman (Jazmine) of Greenville, NC; her granddaughter, Mandy McDonald of Hope Mills, NC; her niece, Kathy Schaffer (Charlie) of Kittrell, NC; her nephew Tony Carter (Judy) of Atlanta, GA; her best friend of 60 years, Jewel Vann of Fayetteville, NC; her best friend of over 25 years, Margie Rogers of Vass, NC; her God-granddaughter, Eryka Cedano; her God-great grandson, Vinh Cedano; and several cousins.

Shirley was born August 4, 1927, in Kenansville, North Carolina to Lucy Batchelor and Rodolph Duffy Carter. She grew up in Duplin County on a tobacco farm and worked on the farm with her father. She graduated from Kenansville High School in 1944. After high school she went to work with Thomas and Howard Food Distributors where she met her husband. She married Donald Gray Stevens on October 5,1952. Together, they raised three daughters. Shirley took classes in sewing, flower arranging, and cake decorating at FTCC. She loved to stay busy. She worked at a florist, a party and bridal rental business, and she helped her husband in the grocery store they owned on Haymont Hill. She was an excellent seamstress and made most of her daughters’ clothes. They were always dressed in the latest fashions. Shirley loved growing flowers and sharing them with her neighbors and church family. Shirley enjoyed taking care of others. She would take meals to neighbors that lived alone and were not able to cook for themselves or she would take flowers to neighbors just to cheer them up. Shirley was very outgoing and friendly, and she never met a stranger. She had a smile that would light up the room when she entered. Her husband said that her smile was the first thing he noticed when he met her.

A memorial service will be held at 11:00 AM, December 19, 2025 at Rogers & Breece Funeral Home, with family welcoming friends and guests at the visitation from 9:45-10:45 AM. Following the services, the family will be attending the private internment.

In Lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be sent to the First Presbyterian Church Sanctuary Renovation Fund, at 102 Ann St. Fayetteville, NC 28301.

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