Steven Stone, pastor of the Hayesville, North Carolina, Church of the Nazarene, passed away unexpectedly December 5. He was 51.

Born December 20, 1964, in San Diego, California, he was the son of Henry and Evelyn (Behm) Stone. 

Steve began pastoring in 1990 at Apple Valley Church of the Nazarene in California. He went on to serve at churches in Orlando and Longwood, Florida; Arden, North Carolina; Birmingham and Vernon, Alabama; Arden (Faithpoint), North Carolina; Lebanon, Tennessee, and Owensboro, Kentucky. Steve began pastoring at the Hayesville church in 2013, along with his wife, Janice. 

In addition to his wife, Steve is survived by a son, Joshua, and two brothers, Bryan and Darren Stone.

The family will receive friends from 12 to 2 p.m. at the Little Brasstown Baptist Church with funeral services immediately following. North Carolina District Superintendent Gregory Mason and Pastor Gerald Hice will officiate. Burial will be in the Sweetwater United Methodist Church Cemetery, and the Brasstown Volunteer Fire Department will serve as pallbearers.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Hayesville Church of the Nazarene, 5760 Highway 64 W, Brasstown, North Carolina 28902.