Mrs. Ceatrice Stephens

STEPHENS, Mrs. Ceatrice - Age 67, passed away Saturday, October 10, 2015 at her residence. Family hour 1:30 p.m. Thursday, October 15, 2015 from the Chapel of Lawrence E. Moon Funeral Home, 906 W. Flint Park Blvd., with funeral service commencing at 2 p.m. Rev. Michael Lewis officiating. Interment New Hope Cemetery, Doddridge, Miller County, AR 71801. Family and friends will assemble at the funeral home 1:30 p.m. Thursday. After which Mrs. Stephens will be taken to J. S. Williams Funeral Home, 1104 Pierre Ave. Shreveport, LA. 71103 (318) 470-5817 Fax (318) 226-7874. Mrs. Stephens will lie in state in the Chapel of Lawrence E. Moon Funeral Home and may be viewed from 12 p.m. - 8 p.m. Wednesday, with the family present from 6 p.m. - 8 p.m. Ceatrice Williams Stephens “Tippy” went home to be with the Lord on Saturdayber 10, 2015. Born and raised in Kiblah, Arkansas, as the youngest of nine children, Ceatrice attended New Hope Baptist Church and accepted the Lord as her Savior at nine years old. In 1965, at age 17, she graduated from Kiblah High School and moved to Flint, MI to continue her education at Baker Business College. That same year, she united with Gospel Temple Missionary Baptist Church and became active on the Young Adult Usher Board and Young Matrons. In 1966, she met her husband, Earl Stephens of Hosston, LA and was married on June 10, 1967. Ceatrice began her career as a Store Clerk, while attending school and in 1968, she went to work for the City of Flint, where she retired after almost 25 years of service. Soon after, she enrolled full-time as a student at the University of Michigan-Flint and obtained her Bachelor of Arts Degree in Sociology in 1999. Ceatrice had a life-long dedication to her community and her church. She was a member of the Flint Chapter of Jack and Jill of America for over 15 years, where she held a variety of officer roles and was voted family of the year in 1982; a member of the Greater Flint Afro-American Hall of Fame, and Treasurer for the Boy Scouts Troop No. 27 of Norwegian Pine. She also served on the Flint Municipal Credit Union board for nine years and on the Credit Union Supervisory Committee for three years; she was a member of Gospel Temple’s Senior Usher Board and served as their Chairperson of the Deaconess Board. Also, she was a member of the Royal Star Chapter No. 27, O.E.S.-P. H.A, Past Loyal Lady Ruler-Light of Hope Assembly No. 64 and she served as Commandress and Treasurer of Oman Court No. 132; and elected Grand Loyal Lady Ruler of the State of Michigan in 2014. She enjoyed playing the piano, cooking for her family, shopping, traveling and watching TV. Ceatrice leaves to cherish her memories: her husband of 48 years, Earl W. Stephens; daughter, Latricia Stephens (Marc C. Turner) of Westfield, NJ; son, Royce Stephens (Anitra Webb) of Flint, MI; three grandchildren, Christian, Dy’Man, and Kaelyn; brother, Henry (Sadie) Williams; three sisters, Hather (George) Wallace, Jr., Olevia (Joe) Legardye and Versie Robinson; four brothers-in law, Sam, James (Gail), Paul (Viola), and Martin (Angela) Stephens; five sisters-in law, Addie Stephens, Jerlyn (Joe) Jackson, Clarice Stephens, Georgia (Jerry) Jackson and Clarencetta Stephens; niece, Katherine Legardye; god-daughter, Kristala Smart; special friend, Nancy Pouncey; a host of nieces, nephews, other relatives and dear friends. Ceatrice was preceded in transition by her parents, Rebecca Quinney Williams and L.W. Williams; sisters, Lue Delphia (Perry) James and Cleonia Padilla; brothers, Robert “Chuck” (Francine) and James Williams. The family would like to express special thanks to Pastor Michael Lewis and the Gospel Temple Missionary Baptist Church family, the Princess Hall Masonic family, Hurley Medical Center Staff on 4th and 7th Floors, Briarwood Rehabilitation and Heartland Hospice. In lieu of flowers, donations will be accepted in Ceatrice’s memory at the Lupus Foundation of Michigan at 1-800-705-66777, www.milupus.org/donate or Michigan Lupus Foundation, 29433 Southfield Rd., Suite 210, Southfield, MI 48076.

Mrs. Ceatrice Stephens

November 19, 1947 - October 10, 2015