MURFREESBORO – Margaret “Peggy” Long Stephenson, age 72 of Murfreesboro, died September 2, 2014 at Creekside Health & Rehabilitation of Ahoskie.

Mrs. Stephenson was born in Richmond, Virginia on August 27, 1942. She was the daughter of Lucille Long Bowles, originally of Severn, NC and later of Como, NC. She was raised in Richmond, VA, and was particularly fond of her aunt Dorothy Long, who helped raise her, and her Aunt Mary Long Whitt and Uncle Joe Mack Long.

After graduating from HighlandSpringsHigh School in 1960, she married E. Frank Stephenson, Jr. of Como, NC and attended Chowan College before earning her bachelor’s degree in Mathematics from North Carolina State University. She subsequently earned a Masters in Architectural History from the University of Virginia.

While her children were young, Mrs. Stephenson taught art at Chowan College and Paul D. Camp Community College. She subsequently worked for the City of Raleigh’s Planning Department and the Virginia Department of Transportation’s Environmental Division.

She is survived by her husband of 54 years, E. Frank Stephenson, Jr. of Murfreesboro, NC; her children, Eugene (Jennifer) of Rome, GA, John of Whiteville, NC, and Caroline (Jochen Kunstler) of Como, NC; and her grandchildren, Will Stephenson, Marlon Kunstler, and Lucye Kunstler. Other survivors include several beloved first cousins.

Memorial donations may be made to the Art Department at Chowan University, Murfreesboro, NC.

A graveside service will be held at Buckhorn Baptist Church, Como, NC on Saturday, September 6, 2014, at 2:00 p.m. Dr. Jay Brabban of Chowan University will conduct the service. The family will receive visitors afterward at the Buckhorn Church Fellowship Hall.

Garrett-Sykes Funeral Service of Ahoskie is serving the Stephenson family and online condolences can be directed to the family by visiting www.garrettsykesfs.com.