Bess Stephens, 83, dies after a long life in Little Rock
Bess Chisum Stephens, 83, died Friday in Little Rock, Ark.
Born Sept. 23, 1927, in Little Rock, she was preceded in death by her parents, Mr. and Mrs. James E. Chisum of Little Rock, her brother, James E. Chisum Jr. of Shreveport, La., her husband W.R. Witt Stephens Sr., and her daughter, Pamela Diane Stephens.
She graduated from Little Rock High School in 1945. After attending Little Rock Junior College in 1947, she started her business career at the Walthour Flake Realty Co. She continued her career at W.R. Stephens Investment Company, now known as Stephens Inc. She was a member of the Stephens family, which owns the Las Vegas Review-Journal. She concluded her business career as Chairman Emeritus of The Stephens Group.
Stephens married in 1956 and she and her husband started a family. During this time, she was involved in many aspects of life in the Little Rock community.
As part of her devotion to each of her children and grandchildren, she volunteered countless hours at The Anthony School, Mount St. Mary Academy and Catholic High School.
For her community, she participated in and promoted many community projects, including the Little Rock Central YWCA, which honored her work in 1986 by naming its facilities in Little Rock the Bess Chisum Stephens Center, which is an affiliate of Centers for Youth and Families. She also was a member of the Second Baptist Church in Little Rock.
She is survived by her daughter, Elizabeth Stephens Campbell and her husband, Craig Dobbs Campbell; her son, W.R. Witt Stephens Jr. and his wife, Carol McCullough Stephens; and five grandchildren, Elizabeth Bess Chisum Campbell Mobley and her husband, Philip Kennon Mobley of Texarkana, Ark., Susan Stephens Campbell of Dallas, Craig Dobbs Campbell Jr., Arden Jewell Stephens and Wilton Robert Stephens III.
A private service for the family was to be conducted today. Memorials may be made to the Bess Chisum Stephens Center for Youth and Families at 5909 Forest Place, #205, Little Rock, AR 72207.
