Michelle Renee Stephens

Michelle Renee Stephens, age 61, of Birmingham, Alabama passed away peacefully and surrounded by family on Monday September 18,2023. She accepted Jesus Christ as her Lord and savior at an early age while attending Kingdom Hall in Birmingham, Alabama. Michelle was a caring and loving woman that would do anything for anyone. She rarely ever did anything for herself. She married John Stephens in 1998, and together raised ten children. John and Michelle were married for 25 years and together for 31.

She is survived by her loving husband, John Stephens, her mother Katrina Hooks, two sisters Stacey Jones, Debra Randall and their nine children: Jahmilla Martin, Candace Martin, Shallony Martin, Ahmad Martin, Tequila Stephens, Chon Stephens, Nick Stephens, J L Stephens, and Shequida Simmons( Ryan).

She is preceded in death by her father Wade Martin, her son Alastair Stephens.

There will be a private memorial service for family at a later date.

When God Created Mothers........

When the Good Lord was creating mothers, He was into His sixth day of "overtime" when the angel appeared and said. "You're doing a lot of fiddling around on this one."

And God said, "Have you read the specs on this order?" She has to be completely washable, but not plastic. Have 180 moveable parts...all replaceable. Run on black coffee and leftovers. Have a lap that disappears when she stands up. A kiss that can cure anything from a broken leg to a disappointed love affair. And six pairs of hands."

The angel shook her head slowly and said. "Six pairs of hands.... no way."

It's not the hands that are causing me problems," God remarked, "it's the three pairs of eyes that mothers have to have."

That's on the standard model?" asked the angel. God nodded.

One pair that sees through closed doors when she asks, 'What are you kids doing in there?' when she already knows. Another here in the back of her head that sees what she shouldn't but what she has to know, and of course the ones here in front that can look at a child when he goofs up and say. 'I understand and I love you' without so much as uttering a word."

God," said the angel touching his sleeve gently, "Get some rest tomorrow...."

I can't," said God, "I'm so close to creating something so close to myself. Already I have one who heals herself when she is sick...can feed a family of six on one pound of hamburger...and can get a nine year old to stand under a shower."

The angel circled the model of a mother very slowly. "It's too soft," she sighed.

But tough!" said God excitedly. "You can imagine what this mother can do or endure."

Can it think?"

Not only can it think, but it can reason and compromise," said the Creator.

Finally, the angel bent over and ran her finger across the cheek.

There's a leak," she pronounced. "I told You that You were trying to put too much into this model."

It's not a leak," said the Lord, "It's a tear."

What's it for?"

It's for joy, sadness, disappointment, pain, loneliness, and pride."

You are a genius, " said the angel.

Somberly, God said, "I didn't put it there.