Frances Stephen

Frances Green Stephen was born on February 10, 1928, in Greenwood, South Carolina to Ed Green and Mary Pressley Green. She was the 3rd child of 10 children and was the 2nd daughter born in the family. Frances was surrounded by the love of her brothers, Archie, Charlie, Steve, James, Bennie, Robert and her sisters, Eddie Mae and the twins, Eunice and Eula. Frances and Charlie were very close. She fondly called him "Deed" and he called her "Teed". Frances attended West Side Elementary and Brewer High Schools in Greenwood, SC. Following graduation from Brewer High, she attended and graduated from Levenia Beauty College in Augusta, GA where she received her Cosmetology Certificate. After receiving her Cosmetology License from the State of South Carolina, she served as an apprentice under the tutelage of Mrs. Ellen Brunson, owner of Brunson Hair Salon. Frances worked very hard and soon became one of the top hair stylists in Greenwood County. It was said that "Frances could work magic with a straightening comb and curling iron." As a child, Frances and her siblings attended Little Mountain AME Church (her father, Ed's family church) in Abbeville, SC and Morris Chapel Baptist Church (mother, Mary church) in Greenwood, SC. At the age of 12, Frances gave her life to Christ and joined Morris Chapel Baptist Church. Always loving music, she couldn't wait to join the choir and was very active with the Sunday school and BTU department. In order to help her parents provide for her younger siblings, Frances relocated to New Rochelle, NY. There in New Rochelle, she worked for a Jewish family as their Domestic Engineer (Housekeeper) and also worked part time in a Beauty Salon. Frances would send half of her earnings to her parents and would send clothes to the twins, Eunice and Eula and baby brother, Robert. Frances loved to sing and while living in New Rochelle, she joined the New Rochelle Gospel Group and she also sung with the Beams of Heaven Gospel Group. After living in New Rochelle for four years, Frances returned home to Greenwood. As a young woman, Frances who was VERY PLEASING TO THE EYE was known to turn many male heads and had MANY suitors vying for her affection. Shortly after returning home, Frances and her best friend, Bessie Adams one Saturday night went to a musical and low and behold she laid eyes on a dashing young man singing in a Quartet group called The Moonlight Singers. This young man was known in and around Greenwood County as the "Black Angel" because of his smooth tenor voice. This young man, J. O. Stephen would later become her husband. On March 20, 1954, Frances Green and J. O. Stephen united in holy matrimony. They exchanged vows in the parsonage of Rev. Walker of Greenwood, SC. The couple relocated to Meriden, CT and lived in the home of Reverend. Archie and Lillie Mae Green; both joined Mt. Hebron Baptist Church where Rev. Fred Hicks was the pastor. Eventually they relocated to Denver, Colorado in 1956, making Colorado there home and prepared to start their family. Frances and J. O. were married for 62 years. J. O. preceded her in death, passing on April 26, 2016. To this union, Johnnie, Jr. and Vickie S. were born. Frances LOVED her children and this love was reciprocated by Johnnie, Jr. and Vickie. There was nothing in the world that she would not do for her children. She was their biggest cheerleader and they were her PRECIOUS CARGOS! Later, Frances was blessed with a granddaughter named, Kyla. Frances thought the sun rose and set in her precious Kyla Anne. Every birthday, Christmas, Easter, Spring break and summer break Frances would travel wherever her son, John was stationed to be with "Grannies Lil Girl." That unbreakable bond grannie and granddaughter had will never be broken. Another source of pride for Frances was the birth of her great granddaughters, Alexes Rehanna, Tori Janae and Leilah Kristin. They were known as "GRANNIES GIRLS"; and Lord, she LOVED GRANNIES GIRLS. Frances worked 27 years for the Denver Public Schools in their Food Nutrition Department and retired May of 1994. She attended Community College of Denver and received an Associate Degree in Nutrition; after retirement, Frances went on to earn a Bachelor's of Art Degree in Biblical Studies from the United Theological Seminary in Monroe, LA. Upon arriving in Denver in 1956, Frances joined the Union Baptist Church where Rev. John T. Walker was the Pastor. She adored Union Baptist and her church family and after 62 years of being a member of Union, her love has not changed. She was a member of the choir & served as President of the Gospel Choir; she was a member of the Junior Mission and the Senior Mission. Frances served as past President of the Denver Interdenominational Ministers Wives and Widows (DIMWMW) from 1966-1968. In addition, she served as Treasure of the Colorado Association of Ministers Wives and Widows (CAMWMW) for well over 10+ years. She is a Lifelong member of the International Ministers Wives and Widows Organization. She was considered by many Ministers Wives as a role model on how to act as a First Lady of their husband's church. She was also a member of the Red Shield Royal Sunshiners Bible Study and served as their Chaplain until her health began to decline and she volunteered at the City and County Department of Social Services for many years. Frances had impeccable taste in clothing and style. You would never see her dressed without her hat, gloves, shoes and a matching purse. She also traveled extensively throughout the United States and Europe; wherever her son, John was stationed, Frances was there. Early on the morning of January 28, 2017, Frances received the call that she had been waiting for all her life. The caller stated, "Well Done Thy Good and Faithful Servant; it's time to come home." Those left to cherish her memory and mourn her loss include her son, Johnnie O. (Michelle) Stephen of Commerce City, CO; daughter, Vickie S. Stephen of Denver, CO; one brother, Robert L. (Mintha) Green of Meriden, CT; two sisters, Pastor Eunice (Richard) Rayner of Middletown, CT and Eula Dowtin of Meriden, CT; one sister in law, Louise (Anderson) Bolden, Jr. of Greenwood, SC; granddaughter, Kyla A. (TSGT William) Liggins of Waldorf, MD; three great grandchildren, Alexes R. Liggins of Dentin TX, Tori J. Liggins of Toledo, OH and Leilah K. Liggins of Waldorf, MD; her Union Baptist Church Family; and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins and other relatives and many friends.

Funeral Home: Pipkin Braswell Funerals and Cremation - 2050 Uinta Street, Denver, Colorado
Visitation: 2/10/2017 at 4:00 PM - Pipkin Braswell Chapel of Peace - 6601 East Colfax Avenue, Denver, CO
Service: 2/11/2017 at 12:00 PM - Union Baptist Church - 3200 Dahlia Street, Denver, CO
Cemetery: 2/13/2017 at 2:00 PM - Fort Logan National Cemetery - 4400 W. Kenyon Ave., Denver, CO