Retired US Air Force Chief Master Sergeant James D. Stephens, 80, of Fayetteville, died Thursday, April 30, 2015, at Cape Fear Valley Medical Center.

Funeral service will be held on Monday, May 4, 2015 at 1 pm in Jernigan Warren Chapel with Rev. Sherrill Boykin presiding. The burial will follow at LaFayette Memorial Park on Ramsey Street.

The family will receive friends prior to the service from 12 to 1 pm at the funeral home.

James was retired from the US Air Force after 22 years of service, including the Vietnam War. Following the military, he worked civil service on Fort Bragg at Simmons Army Air Field.

He was preceded in death by his wife of 54 years, Bennie Lou.

He is survived by his daughter, Janet Pelley and her husband Steve of Hampton Cove, AL; son, Larry Stephens and wife, Melinda of Hampton Cove; 4 grandchildren, David Pelley, Rachel Pelley, Brett Stephens and his wife Kate, and Ashley Stephens; 3 great-grandchildren, Abigail, Evelyn and Charlotte Anne; and 2 brothers, Charles Stephens of Fayetteville and William Max Stephens of Virginia.