Alvin (Al) Hugh Stevens, Jr.

Alvin (Al) Hugh Stevens, Jr., 74, of Clayton, NC, passed away July 14, 2023, at the SECU Hospice House of Johnston County, surrounded by family and will be dearly missed. Mr. Stevens was born in Onslow County on September 11, 1948. He was a son of the late Alvin Hugh Stevens, Sr. and Daisy Mae Beddard Stevens. Alvin (Al) Hugh Stevens Jr. was a beloved husband, father, brother, granddaddy, uncle, and friend.

Al was raised in Richlands, NC. He was lucky enough to be married to his best friend, Kathy Stevens, for 56 years after a chance meeting at a gas station. They were married six months later on October 14, 1967. Together they had 3 children.

He served his country in Vietnam from 1969-1970, earning two Army Commendation medals and a bronze star.

Al never missed an opportunity to help family or community, often volunteering before being asked. He routinely drove 90 miles to help his mother with her lawn mower or a gardening task. He also coached youth football for 8 years with the Smithfield Optimist Club, often picking up his players for practice and games ensuring they had safe and reliable transportation.

He was a fiercely devoted husband and father and was happiest spending time with family. They traveled in a conversion van to Texas to visit Kathy’s family, stopping along the way to camp and cook dinner on a Coleman stove. He loved to cook a pig in the front yard to bring family and friends together for a meal, which included his home-grown collards, and famous gravy. Al enjoyed spoiling his four grandchildren – he always had a pack of skittles in his shirt pocket. He rode around the yard with grandkids on the lawn mower to settle them in for a nap. He never failed to make his grandkids smile, with a “it’ll feel better when it stops hurting” joke or a piece of double bubble gum. Al loved pork BBQ, his truck, the mountains, making his own vinegar sauce, gardening, 60s music, and cooking for family.

Mr. Stevens is survived by his wife of 56 years, Kathryn Burt Stevens; son, Alvin Hugh Stevens, III of Selma (Martha); daughters, Danietta Mae Stevens Pignetti of Charlotte (Tripp) and Jennifer Frances Stevens Benson of Clayton (Chris); sister, Linda Stevens of Richlands; grandchildren, Alvin Hugh Stevens IV, Blake Benson, Addison Pignetti and Pete Pignetti.

A Memorial Service honoring Mr. Stevens will be held Thursday, July 20, 2023 at 12:00 noon in the Casey Funeral Home & Cremations Chapel. Reverend Billie Lawson will be officiating the service. The family will receive friends beginning at 11:00 am until noon prior to the service. At a later date, a private Inurnment Service will be held at the State VA Cemetery in Goldsboro, NC.

Casey Funeral Home & Cremations is honored to be serving the Stevens family.

Online condolences may be sent to www.caseyfh.com.