Ethylee Stephens ( June 23, 1930 – June 8, 2018)

Service Date: June 14, 2018
Time of Service: 5:00 PM
Location of Service: Golden’s Funeral Home, 210 N. Pennsylvania Avenue, Winter Park, FL 32789
Contact: (407) 740-6784

Date of Visitation: June 14, 2018
Time of Visitation: 3:00 – 5:00 pm
Location of Service: Golden’s Funeral Home, 210 N. Pennsylvania Avenue, Winter Park, FL 32789
Contact: (407) 740-6784

Obituary

Ethylee Stephens was born June 23, 1930 in Brooklyn, New York to the late William Stephens and Angelina Alice Rhino-Stephens. She was the eldest of 7 children, 5 of which preceded her in death (Arthur “Simba” Stephens, Clinton “Suffie” Stephens, William Franklin Stephens, Estelle Pennington and Florence Lemon).

Ethylee was educated in Brooklyn public schools. She went on to further her education and had several career paths ranging from key punch operator to cosmetologist. She also worked as a nurse’s aide until her retirement in the late 1980’s. She was the mother of 3 children. Her first daughter, Deborah Michelle McCowan preceded her in death in May of 1963. She met and married Robert “Rocky” Brown who was the love of her life and preceded her in death. In 1966 God gave her a double portion, with twins Siobhan Capucine Brown- McClendon and El Hadjj Malik Brown.

Ethylee decided to leave New York in 1978 and moved to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. From there she enjoyed life to the fullest, had numerous job experiences, traveled extensively, and met many people. She was a part of many groups and church organizations. She unapologetically celebrated her blackness. As a proud black woman, she loved her black culture, from the black panthers, to Kwanzaa and Malcolm X and Betty Shabazz. And she loved to flaunt her beautiful African attire. Her favorite was the African drums. Just the sound of them would cause her to dance and ululate with excitement. She was the matriarch of her family and blessed with longevity. She enjoyed sending and receiving greeting cards. She loved fruits and the natural and holistic way of doing things. An avid reader, full of wisdom and was well versed and could debate any topic of conversation for hours on end. Every topic started and ended with New York. A City that she loved dearly. Nothing could be done anywhere like it could be done in New York. She was witty, and sharp, and she saw beauty in everything. If it wasn’t fabulous, it was sharp. One of her favorite sayings was “Go ‘head huzzy”. She was a diva in every sense of the word.

In 1985, she joined Christian Love Worship Center under the leadership of Bishop George Gibson and was a part of pastor’s aid and missionary board until she relocated to Southfield, Michigan where she lived until she sought warmer weather and decided to relocate to Florida with her niece Sheri. She was a member of Macedonia Missionary Baptist Church in Eatonville, FL for several years and then attended Christian Science Center in Winter Park, FL. She loved the Lord, loved serving and praising him. She will be greatly missed by all who met her.

She is survived by her children; Siobhan McClendon and Malik Brown (Evangeline), Her one and only beloved grandson; Najee Brown, her faithful baby brother; Charles Douglas Stephens, 13 nieces all who loved and were loved by her. Especially her oldest niece Valerie Pennington who was devoted until the end. 12 nephews, 15 great-nieces, 10 great-nephews, 12 great-great nieces and 7 great-great nephews. A fruitful tree with many branches. She had two godchildren; her Godson Kevin Thomas, who preceded her in death, and her Goddaughter V. Kenyetta “Sweetie” Hadin whom she adored. 3 lifetime friends; Dee-Dee King of Arizona, Lilly Pearl Thomas of Michigan and Marion Thompson of Pennsylvania shared over 60+ years of friendship. And a host of many other friends and associates.