Peter Kent Stephens

Peter Kent Stephens age 79, of Rock Hill, SC passed away peacefully at home in the early morning hours of Sunday, September 15, 2024. During the past seven years, he journeyed through all the stages of Alzheimer’s. Pete was born April 23, 1945, in Walterboro, SC to the late Peter Stephens and the late Rebecca Mears Stephens. He was the oldest of four children.

Peter was a 1963 graduate of Colleton High School, a 1970 graduate of Tuskegee Institute where he earned the degree of Bachelor of Science in History.  He received a master’s degree from UCLA in African American Studies.  Pete retired in 2008 after 33 years of service from the United States Government Social Security Administration.

Peter attended Friendship Missionary Baptist Churches in Charlotte NC and Columbia TN.

Pete had a quiet and gentle spirit. He was a voracious reader and was most at peace with his head buried in a newly purchased book, a newspaper, his Newsweek, Consumer Reports, or National Geographic Magazines.  He retained a wealth of knowledge and had an incredible ability to recall world history including specific dates. He fondly recalled how his grandfather Pam Pam (Richard B. Mears) and his mother pooled their resources to purchase a set of encyclopedias for him that afforded him the opportunity to “take a trip around the world”. He enjoyed photography which allowed him to explore and capture the beauty of God’s creation through the lens of his 35mm cameras.

In addition to his parents and grandfather, he was preceded in death by his brothers Henry Donald and Sylvester Stephens, a niece Latoya Stephens, and nephews Sylvester Y. and Richard A. Stephens.

He is survived by his devoted wife of 47 years, Poinzettia A. Stephens; his loving brother, Richard L. Koger (Lisa) of Lathrup Village, MI;  a very caring sister- in law, Sammie Polite (Prince) of Walterboro, SC; niece reared in the home, Merian Z. Frazier (Terry, Sr.); nephews Peter M. Stephens (Geraldine), Donnell Stephens (Terry), Ryan Stephens and Michael Koger; nieces Virginia Kay Moore (Eric) and Syldra Stephens Young (Calvin); sibling-in-laws, Merian J. Adams, Mildred Y. Adams, Larry I. Adams (Terrie), and Brenda F. Adams all of Rock Hill SC; He is also survived by many cousins in Colleton County SC and many Rock Hill nieces and nephews and their friends that affectionately called him “Uncle Pete”.

Memorials may be made in Pete’s name to: Development Office; PO Box 1304 Tuskegee Institute; Tuskegee, Alabama 36087.