1927
Malcolm
2016
Malcolm Stephens Jr
July 6, 1927 — January 30, 2016
Malcolm Leslie Stephens Jr., 88, died on Jan. 30, 2016. Born on July 6, 1927, to Malcolm Leslie and Helen Hindry Stephens in St. Augustine, Florida, Malcolm was proud of his long family heritage in the Ancient City. A prominent and highly respected St. Augustine Attorney for more than five decades, Mr. Stephens devoted much of his illustrious career to civic, governmental and community events celebrating the history of his hometown, state and nation.
Mr. Stephens graduated from Mercersburg Academy in Pennsylvania, attended Princeton University, and served in the U.S. Army before earning his law degree at Stetson University in 1952. He was honored, along with only one other law graduate in Florida, to serve for one year as a legal research assistant to the seven justices of the Supreme Court of Florida in Tallahassee. He was a member of the American Bar Association, the Florida Bar Association and the St. Johns County Bar Association, of which he was a former president.
Mr. Stephens was a lifelong member of Trinity Episcopal Church in St. Augustine, the oldest Protestant Church in the State of Florida, where his grandfather, Louis Fitz-James Hindry, served as Rector from 1904 until 1936. Mr. Stephens was twice appointed senior warden of the church and served for many years as a licensed lay-reader. He was a Master Mason in Ashlar Lodge 98, F & AM., Scottish Rites Bodies, Morocco Temple and St. Augustine Shrine Club, a former president of the Kiwanis Club of St. Augustine as well as a Lt. Governor, Division 4 of Florida District of Kiwanis International, a member of Toastmasters International of St. Augustine, a Commodore of the St. Augustine Yacht Club and a former member of the board of trustees of Flagler Hospital Inc. In conjunction with the National Bicentennial in 1976, Mr. Stephens was named president of the Bicentennial Committee of St. Augustine, traveling to Washington, D.C. and throughout the State to promote St. Augustine's important role in the national celebration.
An adventurous traveler who was endlessly fascinated by the diverse history, culture and geography of his own country as well as of the dozens of foreign countries he visited, Mr. Stephens chronicled many of his travels in writing for the benefit of his family and friends. He appreciated fine cuisine, beautiful surroundings, and worthy companionship, describing his experiences and observations with a keen eye, an impressive vocabulary and a dry sense of humor. As a well-traveled, sophisticated gentleman and scholar, Mr. Stephens was once honored to share his knowledge with school children in Cameroon, West Africa. It was one of his cherished memories.
Mr. Stephens was predeceased by his parents and his late wife Barbara Luff Stephens, the beloved mother of his three children.
He is survived by his loving wife, Georganna Sutton Stephens; his three children: Susan Grace Stephens Conway (David) of Houston, Texas, Lisa Ann Stephens of Bath, Maine, and Malcolm Leslie Stephens III (Audrey) of St. Augustine Beach; and his three step-children, Terry Bivins (Lyn) of Chicago, Illinois, Nancy Scott (Ron) of Anna Maria Island, Florida, and Margaret Withall (Gary), of Wayne, Illinois; and grandchildren, Ashley Rebecca Conway, Miles Stephens Conway, Duke Anderson Reddoch II, Margaret Grace Stephens, Leslie Withall Stout and Michael Withall; two great-grandchildren; his sister, Marilyn Stephens Peyton of Ponte Vedra; and his nephew, John Stephens Peyton (Kathryn) of Jacksonville.
A memorial service, conducted by Christ Episcopal Church will be at 11 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 13, 2016, in the Vicar's Landing Auditorium, 1000 Vicar's Landing Way, Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida 32082. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Vicar's Landing "Members Trust" for scholarships. A reception celebrating the life of Malcolm Leslie Stephens Jr., will follow the memorial service.
Mr. Stephens graduated from Mercersburg Academy in Pennsylvania, attended Princeton University, and served in the U.S. Army before earning his law degree at Stetson University in 1952. He was honored, along with only one other law graduate in Florida, to serve for one year as a legal research assistant to the seven justices of the Supreme Court of Florida in Tallahassee. He was a member of the American Bar Association, the Florida Bar Association and the St. Johns County Bar Association, of which he was a former president.
Mr. Stephens was a lifelong member of Trinity Episcopal Church in St. Augustine, the oldest Protestant Church in the State of Florida, where his grandfather, Louis Fitz-James Hindry, served as Rector from 1904 until 1936. Mr. Stephens was twice appointed senior warden of the church and served for many years as a licensed lay-reader. He was a Master Mason in Ashlar Lodge 98, F & AM., Scottish Rites Bodies, Morocco Temple and St. Augustine Shrine Club, a former president of the Kiwanis Club of St. Augustine as well as a Lt. Governor, Division 4 of Florida District of Kiwanis International, a member of Toastmasters International of St. Augustine, a Commodore of the St. Augustine Yacht Club and a former member of the board of trustees of Flagler Hospital Inc. In conjunction with the National Bicentennial in 1976, Mr. Stephens was named president of the Bicentennial Committee of St. Augustine, traveling to Washington, D.C. and throughout the State to promote St. Augustine's important role in the national celebration.
An adventurous traveler who was endlessly fascinated by the diverse history, culture and geography of his own country as well as of the dozens of foreign countries he visited, Mr. Stephens chronicled many of his travels in writing for the benefit of his family and friends. He appreciated fine cuisine, beautiful surroundings, and worthy companionship, describing his experiences and observations with a keen eye, an impressive vocabulary and a dry sense of humor. As a well-traveled, sophisticated gentleman and scholar, Mr. Stephens was once honored to share his knowledge with school children in Cameroon, West Africa. It was one of his cherished memories.
Mr. Stephens was predeceased by his parents and his late wife Barbara Luff Stephens, the beloved mother of his three children.
He is survived by his loving wife, Georganna Sutton Stephens; his three children: Susan Grace Stephens Conway (David) of Houston, Texas, Lisa Ann Stephens of Bath, Maine, and Malcolm Leslie Stephens III (Audrey) of St. Augustine Beach; and his three step-children, Terry Bivins (Lyn) of Chicago, Illinois, Nancy Scott (Ron) of Anna Maria Island, Florida, and Margaret Withall (Gary), of Wayne, Illinois; and grandchildren, Ashley Rebecca Conway, Miles Stephens Conway, Duke Anderson Reddoch II, Margaret Grace Stephens, Leslie Withall Stout and Michael Withall; two great-grandchildren; his sister, Marilyn Stephens Peyton of Ponte Vedra; and his nephew, John Stephens Peyton (Kathryn) of Jacksonville.
A memorial service, conducted by Christ Episcopal Church will be at 11 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 13, 2016, in the Vicar's Landing Auditorium, 1000 Vicar's Landing Way, Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida 32082. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Vicar's Landing "Members Trust" for scholarships. A reception celebrating the life of Malcolm Leslie Stephens Jr., will follow the memorial service.
To order memorial trees in memory of Malcolm Stephens Jr, please visit our tree store.