Paula Jean Stockdale

Mrs. Paula Jean Byars Stockdale, 58, of Paris died Tuesday, August 30, 2016, at Henry County Medical Center. Services will be held at 1 p.m. Saturday, September 3, 2016, at Church of The Living God. Interment will follow in Greenwood Cemetery. Paula Jean Byars Stockdale, was born May 27, 1958 in Paris, TN. In life, she was very active in her community.  She was a member of The Church of the Living God Temple #347 where she served the Lord proudly over the years by singing in the choir, working with the youth and serving as a missionary. Known to many in the community as “Miss Paula,” she was passionate about being a beacon of hope and encouragement for the youth.  She was the Founder and Executive Director of Ladies With SWAG-Sisters With A Goal, an organization designed to encourage and empower girls ages 12-18 in both Carroll and Henry County.  She also served as a substitute teacher for both Paris Special School District and the Henry Co. School System. She held several positions for the State of Tennessee and other organizations including the Vocational Rehabilitation Center, National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) Tennessee, and the Tennessee Mental Health Consumers Association supporting people suffering from mental illness.  She was a board member of the University of Tennessee at Martin Alumni Association,  a board member of  The Carl Perkins Exchange Center in Henry County and  served on various other boards throughout the state. She received her Bachelor’s Degree from the University of Tennessee at Martin and obtained her Masters Degree in Human Behavior from Capella University.  Both accomplishments were achieved with a perfect 4.0 grade average.  Prior to death, she was working on her PhD in Human Behavior from Capella University. Due to her many accomplishments, in 1994 in Gatlinburg, TN she and her family received the award for Black Family of the Year from the Tennessee State Black Caucus. She left to go be with the Lord on Tuesday, August 30, 2016. She is survived in life by her husband James Kelly Stockdale; three sons, Duone (Monica) Byars of Houston, TX, Cedrick “Marquis” (Tessa) Byars, Bradley “Brother” Byars, both of Paris; one God-son, Joe Lewis Olive; five grandchildren, Tia, Sebastian, Navonte, Jared and Noah; Sister, Judy (Mickey) Patton of Paris; Brother, Donald (Medaline) Byars of Houston, TX; nephews, Wesley McNeal, Dustin Patton and Zach Byars; nieces Nikole Byars; Brittany Byars and Dawn Stokes; plus a great magnitude of aunts, uncles, cousins and friends. Preceding her in death were both parents Charles and Pauline Byars and her brother Richard (Ann) Byars. Rawls Funeral Home – Paris 731-642-1515