The Betty J Lewis Black History Celebration Committee is excited to announce the Betty J Lewis Unsung Hero for June 2022, Stephone Avery.

Stephone Avery, Sr., was a highly motivated individual who connected with people. He developed a positive attitude that communicated to all they have worth and can succeed in life. Stephone was a 1984 graduate of Camden High School, and he excelled in football and track. He was an instrumental part of the Division II national championship football team at the collegiate level at the University of Monroe, Louisiana. He also enrolled at Southern Arkansas University, where he earned a BS in Sociology and graduated summa cum laude in 2003. He was a supervisor in the Camden Fairview Schools for over 15 years, where he enjoyed interacting with students, faculty, staff, and parents until his retirement in 2019. He was committed to the Camden community. He served on many boards, including the Ouachita County Medical Center, River Valley Community Federal Credit Union, Ouachita Enrichment Center, and Camden’s African American Historical Commission. He also served on the state board of the Arkansas Education Association and was a national trainer for the National Education Association. Stephone was a certified motivational speaker and life coach with the John Maxwell Team. He was an author and published one book and was writing two more when his health failed. He was a family man who loved his wife and children and shared stories about them with all he encountered. He loved God and served as pastor of the St. Paul Christian Church in the Harmony Grove area until he transitioned to heaven in October 2021.