Henry Curtis Stephens Jr.

Henry Curtis Stephens Jr., 92, of Urbana, passed away on Tuesday, September 2, 2025. Curtis was born in Athens, GA, on December 13, 1932, the son of Henry Curtis Stephens and Bonnie Warwick Stephens.

Curtis graduated from Athens High School in 1949 and received his Bachelors of Fine Arts at the University of Georgia, after which he served as a communications officer in the United States Air Force in Hof, Germany. He returned to Athens, GA after his service, where he received a Masters of Fine Arts degree, graduating in 1960. It was during his work on his masters degree that he created the concept of scoring and folding plastics into intricate geometric designs, that he made into sculptural lamps.

Curtis’ first teaching position was at LaGrange College in LaGrange, GA. There, he met his first wife, Margaret (Maggie) Layton Stephens. Curtis and Maggie moved to the Upper Penninsula of Michigan where they lived for 2 years prior to settling in Champaign-Urbana, IL. They had 2 girls, Bonnie Elizabeth and Holly Margaret, prior to their divorce.

Curtis was a designer craftsman and an associate professor at the University of Illinois in the School of Art and Design for many years, where he taught photography, freshman design, and a senior seminar on Light and Color. He continued to make jewelry, furniture, photography, and scored and folded plastics throughout his career and into retirement.

Curtis believed deeply in human rights, physical fitness, acting with love, and choosing positivity. He worked out daily, enjoyed good food and wine, and especially loved attending classical music events at the Krannert Center for the Performing Arts, where he met his partner Alethea Taylor, with whom he spent the remainder of his life.

Curtis is preceded in death by his parents, Curtis and Bonnie, his brother Wesley, sister Mickey, and partner Alethea. He is survived by his first wife Maggie Stephens (John Brandeberry), their daughters Bonnie Stephens (Ben Murphy) and Holly Stephens (Robert Rummel), Alethea’s daughter Donna Camp (Leonard Hester) and son Sean Camp, and grandchildren Anastasia Murphy, Margaret Camp, Daniel Camp-Blair, and Priyanka Chaudhary.

Curtis elected to fulfill one last teaching assignment after death. His body has been donated to the Anatomical Gift Association of Illinois so that he can assist in educating the future healthcare professionals of the state. When that assignment is complete, the family will have a small service in his home town of Athens, GA.

Sunset Funeral Home, 710 N. Neil St., Champaign, IL 61820, is honored to assist the family with funeral arrangements.

In lieu of flowers or gifts, please consider making a donation to the Krannert Center for the Performing Arts in Curtis’ name.

Please join Curtis' family in sharing memories, photos, and videos on his tribute wall at www.sunsetfuneralhome.com.