Raleigh,

"Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his faithful ones."  Psalm 116:15

Catherine Stephenson Painter, age 90, died peacefully on December 21, 2021.  She was born in Willow Springs, NC to Leonard H. and Lola P. Stephenson on July 3, 1931 and was the youngest of eight children.  Catherine grew up on a farm, attended Cleveland School, and received her B.A. in Music Education in 1953 from East Carolina College in Greenville, NC where she met her beloved husband of sixty-two years, Jack A. Painter.  The couple married in 1955 at First Baptist Church in Raleigh.  Following Jack's ordination into the pastoral ministry, they served congregations in Conway, Knightdale, and Belmont, NC and in Altavista, VA.  Throughout her life, Catherine inspired others with her deep and abiding faith in Jesus Christ and selfless devotion to her family and friends.  She was an outstanding choral music teacher, having taught for over twenty years in the Wake and Gaston County Public Schools as well as private voice and piano lessons from her home.  She wholeheartedly participated in church ministries, teaching Sunday School classes, singing in choirs, and participating in mission trips in the US and overseas.  She also wrote prolifically, including a discipleship book, So, You're a Christian, Now What? for new Christ-followers as well as articles and lessons for the Biblical Recorder and Lifeway.  She happily supported Jack's work as a trustee to Mars Hill University for over thirty years.  Following retirement, she and Jack served eight interim pastorates in the Raleigh area while being members of Trinity Baptist Church.  She considered being a wife, mother, and grandmother some of life's greatest joys.  Her grandchildren would say she was a five-star cook and superb vacation planner of many memorable trips to historic and coastal destinations.  Left to honor Catherine are her daughters and their husbands, Tamara and Craig Peebles of Raleigh, NC and Melanie and Craig Hobson of Jasper, GA; six grandchildren, Caleb (Adrian) Hobson, Catherine (Aaron) Eubanks, Meredith (Hai) Tran, Nathanael Hobson, Garrett Peebles, and Caroline Peebles; and six great-grandchildren.  She is also survived by her sister, Lola (Matthew) Stephenson Delbridge of Goldsboro; brother-in-law, Harold (Virginia) Painter of Tarboro; sister-in-law, Brenda (Lyndel) Barnes of Raleigh; and many beloved nieces and nephews.  She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, and siblings, Ava, Dorothy, Donnie, Ethel, Nimrod, and Edna.  Catherine will be remembered for her devotion to God's Word, hospitality, musical and writing abilities, generosity, and passion for the gospel of Christ.  Some of her favorite Bible verses were "Jesus told her, 'I am the resurrection and the life:  whoever believes in me, though he should die, will come to life,'" (John 11:25-26a) and "As you well know, we have our citizenship in heaven; it is from there that we eagerly await the coming of our Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ.  He will give a new form to this lowly body of ours and remake it according to the pattern of his glorified body, by his power to subject everything to himself." (Philippians 3:20-21).  She will be greatly missed by all who knew and loved her.

A service to celebrate her life, officiated by her pastor, Dr. Jeff Roberts, will be held at Trinity Baptist Church, 4815 Six Forks Rd., Raleigh, NC  27609, at 11:00 AM on Wednesday, January 5, 2022.  The family will receive guests beginning at 10:00 AM at the church prior to the service.  A private burial will take place at Montlawn Cemetery prior to the visitation and funeral.  In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made in Catherine's memory to Trinity Baptist Church (see address above) and to Mars Hill University, PO Box 370, Mars Hill, NC  28574.  Condolences may be sent to the family at 7704 Highlandview Circle, Raleigh, NC  27613 or to Montlawn.