STEPHENS, Sandra Lee (nee: Rhodes), 81, of Lebanon, passed away on Sunday, February 27, 2022 at her residence. Born on August 29, 1940 to William Ashley and Lagonda Allie Mae (nee: Hammonds) Rhodes in Asheville, NC. Sandra graduated from high school in Asheville, NC in 1958.  She went on to attend Western Carolina College, in Cullowhee, NC (now Western Carolina University) and graduated in 1962 with a Bachelors in Education.  The summer of 1962 she taught at a gifted Summer School at Western Carolina University where she met and got engaged to James Albert Stephens of Raleigh, NC.  They were married on June 23, 1963 at Long Shoals Baptist Church, Arden, NC.  Sandra taught elementary education, until the birth of their first child in 1967.  She returned to the education field in 1983 to be an assistant teacher at A.V. Baucom Elementary in Apex, NC for another 14 years.  She absolutely loved teaching and loved to serve in her community and at church.

Sandra was an active member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.  She served in many different capacities.  She was a Primary teacher in the childrens' program, she both sang in and directed the congregational choir, she held many different positions in Relief Society, which is the largest worldwide women's organization in existence today.  She served with her husband Jim, a 3-year mission in the Salt Lake City South Mission from 1998-2001 and also served with him in the Raleigh, North Carolina Temple and as his assistant when he served as Stake Patriarch.  Sandra's love, support, dedication and service to her family, her parents and siblings, her husband, her children and grandchildren knew no bounds.  She was their ultimate champion.

Preceded in death by her parents and her husband, James Albert Stephens, she is survived by her two sons, Ashley (Karen) Stephens of New Hill, NC and Mark (Randi) Stephens of Centerville, UT, her daughter, Stephanie (Sam) Howard of Lebanon, one brother, William Ashley Rhodes, one sister, Evelyn Arthur, 10 grandchildren and 1 great-grandchild.

Services will be held on Saturday, March 12 at 2:00 pm at the Apex Stake Center building, 509 Bryan Dr, Apex, NC 27502. Online condolences may be sent to the family by visiting www.hoskinsfh.com . Arrangements by the Oswald-Hoskins Funeral Home.

In lieu of flowers, please donate to Alzheimer's Association or Hospice of Cincinnati or a local chapter of either one near you.