Clara Mae Stephens

Clara Mae Stephens, 88, of East New Market passed away on Sunday, March 17, 2024 at Rayland Acres Assisted Living in Trappe. She was born in Cambridge on April 17, 1935 and was a daughter of the late William R. and Ruth Dayton Marshall.

Mrs. Stephens graduated from Cambridge High School class of 1953. She also graduated from Salisbury State Teacher's College with a BA Degree in Education. On June 2, 1957 she married William L. Stephens, who passed away on December 17, 2012. Mrs. Stephens taught elementary school for almost 30 years and was a helping teacher in the Title I project for two years. She joined the Methodist Church while a teenager becoming a member of the Methodist Youth Fellowship. Mrs. Stephens was active as an adult, serving on various committees, helping in Summer Bible School and President of the United Methodist Women.

Mrs. Stephens loved to garden- both flowers and vegetables. She was active in the Dorchester Garden Club serving on many committees and held several offices including President. Mrs. Stephens was a Historian and Corresponding Secretary for District I of the Federated Garden Clubs of Maryland.

She was also involved in the Cambridge Woman’s Club, Dorchester Republican Women, active member of the Samuel Chase Chapter DAR serving as Flag Chair and Treasurer, associate member of the Gen. Perry Benson Chapter DAR, trustee for Nanticoke Historic Preservation Assoc. and Volunteer Coordinator for the Native American component of NHPA, board member of the Mid-Shore Symphony Society, member of the Dorchester Retired Educators Assoc. and served as President and a member of the Dorchester General Hospital Auxiliary. She loved to read and was a member of two Book Clubs, volunteered with AARP serving as a Client Facilitator for income tax preparation, loved to cook and was a member of one of Julianna Pax’s “Lunch Bunch” groups, Line dancing at the Y, yoga, bowling, the Baltimore Orioles.

A special thank you to Rayland Acres Assisted Living. 

She is survived by a daughter Cheryl Adams and husband Mike of East New Market, granddaughter Rebecca Adams Compton and husband Jimmy of Cambridge, a great grandson Adam Michael Conrad of Cambridge, four nieces Amy Stephens Meekins, Kathy Stephens Brooks, Cindy Stephens Atkinson and Brenda Stephens Hurley, several special friends, a son Glenn Stephens and wife Tina of Cambridge. Besides her parents, Mrs. Stephens is preceded in death by a sister R. Diane Marshall.  

A celebration of life will be held on Thursday, March 28, 2024 at 1pm at Grace Methodist Church in Cambridge with Rev. Chris Pettit officiating. Interment will be private at the Maryland Eastern Shore Veterans Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to the Wounded Warriors or the Alzheimer's Association. Arrangements are in the care of the Thomas Funeral Home, P.A. in Cambridge.