Martha DePriest Stephens

Martha DePriest Stephens, age 70, passed away on Thursday, May 7, 2026, with family and friends by her side in Jackson, TN.

Martha was born on August 8, 1955 in Jackson, TN. She accepted Christ at the age of 11.

She was married to Don Stephens for 44 years and was a member of West Jackson Baptist Church.

Martha dedicated her life to serving others as a surgical nurse at Jackson Madison County General Hospital for 52 years, where she loved her patients, served countless people, and made many friends in the surgery department. For the past 25 years, her primary focus was working in surgery with Dr. John Sparrow and Registered Nurse Lisa Theus.

Crocheting, cross-stitching and weaving were always interests of Martha. Weaving made her very happy and she was always excited to see different fabric formed out of the single threads that she measured and counted. Martha made many scarves and bookmarks for her friends and also featured her creations at The Clift Dwellers Art Gallery, located in the Great Smokey Mountains Arts & Crafts Community in Gatlinburg, TN. Martha also enjoyed reading books and playing the piano.

Martha is survived by her husband Don Stephens, her only child Robert Paul Stephens, and her brothers Paul DePriest, Jr., and Phillip DePriest. She is also survived by many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her father Paul DePriest and mother Clovis DePriest.

The family would like to thank Hospice of West TN nurse Allie Kilgore, sitter Sarah, and special friend and colleague Lisa Theus for caring for Martha in her final days.

Pallbearers will be Joe Barton, Bruce Dorris, Garry Dorris, Stanley Blanchard, Jimmy Dunn, and Kyle Theus.

SERVICES: A service to celebrate Martha’s life will be held at 6:00 p.m. Monday, May 11, 2026, in the Chapel of Arrington Funeral Directors, with Rev. Lonnie Sanders officiating. The family will receive friends from 4:00 p.m. until the time of the service. Burial will follow on Tuesday, May 12th at 11:00 a.m. at Ridgecrest Cemetery.

The Weaver Poem

by Grant Colfax Tullar (1869-1950)

My life is but a weaving

Between my God and me.

I cannot choose the colours

He weaveth steadily.

Oft’ times He weaveth sorrow;

And I in foolish pride

Forget He sees the upper,

And I the underside.

Not ’til the loom is silent

And the shuttles cease to fly,

Will God unroll the canvas

And reveal the reason why.

The dark threads are as needful

In the weaver’s skillful hand,

As the threads of gold and silver

In the pattern He has planned.

He knows, He loves, He cares;

Nothing this truth can dim.

He gives the very best to those

Who leave the choice to Him.