Additional news: Don Stevens: Cherokee County names Airport Authority room after late visionary
Cherokee County names Airport Authority room after late visionary
Atlanta Journal-Constitution, The: Web Edition Articles (GA) - Monday, July 19, 2021
Family, friends and colleagues of the late Don Stevens gathered recently to honor the man who dedicated a great deal of time and resources to make the Cherokee County Regional Airport what it is today, according to a press release.
On July 12, the Cherokee County Airport Authority hosted a dedication ceremony to honor the former Chairman, who passed away in January. Roughly 50 people attended the ceremony including State Rep. Charlice Byrd who presented a copy of a resolution she sponsored honoring Stevens' in the Georgia House of Representatives to his widow Lila Stevens, and Airport Authority Board Chairman Steve Mammen dedicated the airport's executive conference room to be renamed in Steven's honor.
Stevens, a retired Delta Airlines pilot, served on the Cherokee County Airport Authority for more than 20 years. During his tenure with the Airport Authority, he was instrumental in the development of the Airport Area Master Plan which brought significant expansion in the capabilities of the airport, including extending the runway to 6,000 feet, adding more hangar space and a new terminal building.
Stevens additionally served as chairman of the Cherokee County Water and Sewerage Authority, as board chairman for the Cherokee County Chamber of Commerce in 1999 and was a volunteer firefighter. He is credited in helping to create the DUI Court, and in 2004, he was named First Citizen of Cherokee County by the Cherokee County Chamber of Commerce.
Atlanta Journal-Constitution, The: Web Edition Articles (GA) - Monday, July 19, 2021
~ IN MEMORY ~
DL Capt. Donald Frank ‘Don’ Stevens
February 16, 1943 - January 27, 2021
Word has reached us with news of the passing of retired
Delta pilot Captain Don Stevens, age 77.
Captain Stevens joined Delta Air Lines 09-03-1968. He is survived by his wife Lila along with
his children and grandchildren. To share
memories and view the obituary online please visit the funeral home website at
https://www.darbyfuneralhome.com/obituaries/Donald-Stevens-20/#!/Obituary
For those who may wish to send a personal note, the family
address is listed in whitepages as
9295 E Cherokee Drive, Canton, GA 30115
Thank you,
~ Carol for the PCN
Obituary : Donald
Frank "Don" Stevens
Donald Frank "Don" Stevens, age 77 of Canton,
passed away on Wednesday, January 27, 2021 at Northside Hospital Cherokee. A
graveside service will be held on Saturday, January 30th at Macedonia Memorial
Park at 2pm with Dr. C.R. Hill officiating. He is survived by:
Wife - Lila Stevens of Canton
Son - Keith (Carolyn) Stevens of Canton
Daughter - Janet (Kurt) Wheeler of Canton
Daughter - Kelly (Larry) Berryhill of Ball Ground
Grandchildren - Cody Ingram, Ryan Stevens, Maddie Wheeler,
Alex Stevens, Eli Wheeler, Luke Berryhill
In lieu of flowers, the family request donations be made to
the Wounded Warriors or MUST Ministries in his memory.
The caring staff of Darby Funeral Home is honored to serve
the Stevens family.
To send flowers or a memorial gift to the family of Donald
Frank "Don" Stevens please visit our Sympathy Store.
Graveside Service : JAN 30. 2:00 PM (EST)
Macedonia Memorial Park, 10685 E. Cherokee Dr., Canton, GA
30115
........................................................................
Airport Authority leader, well known volunteer Don Stevens dies
Airport Authority leader, well known volunteer Don Stevens dies
Cherokee Tribune (Canton, GA) - Wednesday, January 27, 2021
A retired Delta Airlines pilot, Stevens played a significant part in preparing the community for the rapid it has seen in recent decades, as well as giving back in volunteer roles.
"You hear that expression, 'a man for his time.' Well, Don Stevens was a man for Cherokee County's time, as it made the transition from rural to metropolitan," said Dennis Burnette, who served as president of Cherokee Bank when Stevens was chairman of the board. "There are many things in Cherokee County that would not have gotten done — or not done as well — without Don's leadership."
In addition to serving in leadership at Cherokee Bank at its founding in 1999 and beyond, Stevens also partnered with the late Dwight Terry in forming T&S Construction and also worked in real estate. It was in public service and volunteer leadership roles where Stevens had his biggest impact, friends said Wednesday.
Stevens served on the Cherokee County Airport Authority for more than 20 years, leading its board as chairman.
"He was a driver for the community," said John Marinko, who has served on the Airport Authority for about 15 years. "He made sure the airport was the front door for businesses looking at Cherokee County."
During his tenure with the Airport Authority, the runway was lengthened from 3,400 feet to 5,000 feet to accommodate business jets, along with other improvements. At the time of his death, a project was underway to expand the runway again to allow for jets to carry large enough fuel loads to fly across the U.S. from the Cherokee County Regional Airport.
"He went to Washington to meet with people from the FAA to get funding to help lengthen the runway," Burnette said. "That's just one of the contributions Don made to the good lives we live in Cherokee County."
Stevens served as chairman of the Cherokee County Water and Sewerage Authority. He was a volunteer firefighter. He and his wife Lila started the Cherokee Thanksgiving program at Canton First United Methodist Church, which has served thousands of holiday meals to people in need. He was a leader in creating the DUI Court, for which he was honored by the Blue Ridge Bar Association. Stevens served as board chairman for the Cherokee County Chamber of Commerce in 1999 and in 2004 was honored by that organization as First Citizen of Cherokee County.
"I'm tiptoeing on the clouds," Stevens said after receiving the First Citizen award. "I'm still in shock. I've never had something affect me quite the way this has. I'm very, very flattered, humbled and grateful, especially when I go back and look at the list of previous winners. That's quite a club they've dropped me into. I'm just so, so flattered that I'm associated with folks in that group."
Enthusiasm, hard work and a positive attitude were all hallmarks of Stevens, according to his friends. Burnette and Marinko credit those qualities with helping save the life of Lila Stevens after she was diagnosed with State IV pancreatic cancer, a disease with a very high mortality rate.
Family was important to Stevens, Marinko said. Don Stevens and his son Keith Stevens owned a classic Cessna airplane. They worked on it together, and flew it to air shows where it won awards.
While Stevens continued to be a leader as Airport Authority chairman, and leaves a long list of accomplishments, his personal attributes will long be remembered, friends said Wednesday.
"I honestly don't think Don Stevens ever met a stranger," Chamber President Pam Carnes said Wednesday. "No matter how your day was going, he was sure to make it better since he was never at a loss for words or without a story or joke to share!"
Marinko said Stevens showed respect to everyone and was a person who could bring sides together during a conflict.
"He was a good guy," Marinko said. "It's just that simple."
Cherokee Tribune (Canton, GA) - Wednesday, January 27, 2021
I have not seen Don for many years, but in the 1989-1990 time frame, I shared ownership with Don in a Cessna 170B - a beautiful classic. Don also owned a Cessna 310 at that time, sharing ownership with Dr. Homer (Nugget) Gold, my doctor from whom I purchased his half share in the 170. I flew with Don in both of these birds. He was an awesome pilot and a great guy. We sold the 170 when I got a Cincinnati bid and moved away. I don’t think anybody who met Don and Lila didn’t become instant friends with this amazing couple. My condolences to his family. Don is a pilot that I will never forget.
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