1947
Dr. Stephens is born to Carl Hunter and Ruth Nell Stephens.
1968
Dr. Stephens earns a Bachelor of Arts from the Mississippi University for Women and begins her career as a librarian at Muscle Shoals Regional Library.
1970
Dr. Stephens receives a Master of Library Science from Vanderbilt University Peabody College and becomes a librarian at Memphis Public Library.
1972
Dr. Stephens is promoted to branch head at Memphis Public Library.
1982
Dr. Stephens becomes director of the Jennie Stephens Smith Public Library.
1984
Dr. Stephens serves as a part-time instructor at the College of Communication & Information Sciences at the University of Alabama.
1985
Dr. Stephens becomes an assistant professor at the University of Alabama.
1988
Dr. Stephens receives a Doctor of Library Science from Columbia University in New York, New York.
1995
Dr. Stephens becomes an associate professor at the University of Alabama.
2002
Dr. Stephens begins volunteering at the University Presbyterian Church food pantry.
2003
Dr. Stephens serves on the board of directors of West Alabama AIDS Outreach.
2004
Dr. Stephens receives the Librarian of the Year Award from the Alabama chapter of Beta Phi Mu, and the Blackburn Community Service Award from the West Alabama AIDS Outreach.
2006
Dr. Stephens receives the Eminent Librarian Award and the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Alabama Library Association.
2007
Dr. Stephens joins the adjunct faculty at the College of Communication & Information Sciences at the University of Alabama. He also receives the Knox Hagood Award from the university.
2009
Dr. Stephens begins volunteering at the Hospice of West Alabama.
2012
Dr. Stephens begins volunteering with Turing Point Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Services.
2015
Dr. Stephens is inducted into the Hall of Fame at the College of Communication & Information Sciences.
2016
Dr. Stephens receives the Beta Phi Mu Award for distinguished service in library education from the American Library Association.
2017
Dr. Stephens is named a Distinguished Humanitarian and receives the Albert Nelson Marquis Lifetime Achievement Award from Marquis Who’s Who.