The Last Wagon Ride

In this moving and historically accurate tale, author Randy Stephenson weaves the story of his grandfather Albert Stephenson's life and those of his family. Spanning the late nineteenth century and into the twentieth, through World War I and finally the great flu pandemic of 1918, we follow Albert and his wife, Fannie, as they grow into a prolific family in western Johnston County, North Carolina.

The years are often kind to Albert and Fannie, but with their success come brutal lows, as well. Yet, by following his dreams and staying true to his conscience, Albert creates a legacy that continues to live on to this day.

Randy Stephenson was raised on the same farm in western Johnston County, North Carolina, that was purchased by his grandfather Albert Stephenson in 1903. Upon graduation from Johnston County's original Cleveland High School in 1969, he went on to receive a bachelor's degree in English from Appalachian State University in 1973. Randy moved to the Atlanta area in the early 1980s, where he furthered his education at Georgia State University by obtaining both master's and specialist in education degrees. After teaching in several school systems, he retired from public education in 2010 and spent the next seven years teaching English as a second language to immigrants in Atlanta. Now fully retired, he serves on the board of directors for Friends of FORMA, a nonprofit organization that seeks to provide educational opportunities and improved nutrition for impoverished youth in Guatemala.