Rev. Earnest Stepp: Obituary

Rev. Earnest Stepp, age 94 of Blue Ridge went home to be with his Lord on September 7, 2014.Rev. Stepp was born April 16, 1920 in Fannin County, GA to the late Clifford Hayden and Gertrude Higdon Stepp. He retired from Cities Service Copper Company. Rev. Stepp preached and/or served as pastor to many of the surrounding churches in the area. He served in the United States Army during World War II in the European Theater, receiving a Victory Medal, American Service Medal, European African Middle Eastern Service Medal with two Bronze Stars. Rev. Stepp was preceded in death by his loving wife, Dollie Mae Patterson Stepp; step-son, Charles Patterson and granddaughter, Charlise Patterson; brother, Otis Stepp and sisters Cleo and Dorothy Ray.

Survivors include daughter and son-in-law, Karen and Roy Blackston of Dallas, Ga, son and daughter-in-law, Joel and Tammy Stepp of Blue Ridge, GA, eight step-children, whom he loved as his own, Shirley Radford of Arvada, CO, Martha Patterson of Waleska, GA, Dorothy Mayfield of Morganton, GA, Beverly and Ron Shaub of Columbia, PA, Jerry and Wanda Patterson of Blue Ridge, GA, Jim and Rosalie Patterson of Perry, GA and Kenneth Patterson of Blue Ridge, GA; two sisters, Jane Miller of Blue Ridge, GA and Louise Owens of Joliette, IL; two brothers, Robert Stepp of Blue Ridge and Johnny Stepp of Dalton, GA; twenty-one grandchildren and twenty-one great-grandchildren also survive.

Funeral services will be conducted on Tuesday, September 9, 2014 at 2:00 p.m. from the Akins of Blue Ridge Chapel with Rev. Lee Tanner officiating. Music will be by Brittany McCord and Oak Grove Special Choir. Interment will follow in the Jerusalem Cemetery with full Military Honors by the North Georgia Honor Guard. Pallbearers will be Havern Mayfield, Wesley Gazaway, Kevin Hawkins, Heath Mayfield, Timmy Millsaps, Dustin Dyer and Coby Dyer.

The family will receive friends at the funeral home on Monday evening from 6:00 p.m. until 9:00 p.m. Akins Funeral Home of Blue Ridge is in charge of the arrangements.