Articles have been edited by Suzanne Forte for brevity and to avoid mention of living individuals.

Ada Odum Stephens passed away November 9, 1982

When Mrs. Ada Stephens turned 85 in November, all her family, six children, 15 grandchildren and sixteen great grand children gathered to celebrate the occasion.  They also gather for Christmas.

"Yes, I just love all my family.  There's about 41 of us when we're all here", she says.  "I've lived in Walton County and around Loganville most all my life and this is just home to me"

"We had hard times" she continues.  "I raised my children during hard times and we did the best we could.  We farmed and raised livestock.  My husband died when I was 32.  My oldest child was 14 at the time, and I raised the children right by myself".

Mrs. Stephens was born in 1891, one of nine children of the late Andrew Odum and Mattie (Myers) Odum, Walton County pioneers.  Of her original family, only one sister and two brother are left. 

Mrs. Stephens husband was the late Thomas Jackson Stephens, son of more Walton County pioneers, Bud Stephens and Betsy Ann (Simminton) Stephens.

"We were married Feb 20, and I was 18 years old", she says.  "We were married by a Mr. Star, who was a justice-of-the peace in Loganville.  He lived where Bud Smith lives now and he married us while we sat in the buggy.  We didn't have long though, because my husband died of pneumonia.  I never did marry again.  I loved my young ones better than I did another man."

Mrs. Stephens has been a member of Bay Creek Baptist Church since 1926, and early preachers she remembers are Stephenson, Spivey, Crowe, Banks and Fields.

"I raised my children in that church, too", she says.  "I carried them to the church barefooted and we walked, too, although we had buggies back then.  I've never driven a car, and I don't think I've ever been under a steering wheel.".

"My favorite activity now is sitting and rocking", she laughs. "I do like to go visiting, though."

"I've seen Loganville grow from a little place to what it is now" she remembers.  "I think all the growth is good and I'm proud that all my children have made good.  They take good care of me and I really love them.  I've lived a good, long life and the Lord has just watched over me."