Jane Stephenson, founder of the New Opportunity School for Women, dies at 88

By: Lantern staff

Outlets: Kentucky Lantern

Published: May 7, 2026

Words: 359

Last Updated: 2 months, 2 weeks ago

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Jane Stephenson, founder of the New Opportunity School for Women and the longtime First Lady of Berea College, died on May 2, 2026 after a brief illness, according to her family. She was 88.

Stephenson was born in North Carolina in 1938. She attended Lees McCrae College and Appalachian State University for a degree in business and received a master’s degree from UNC Greensboro, according to her obituary.

Stephenson moved to Lexington in 1966 …

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