Christine Stevenson

Christine Stevenson was born on June 12, 1938 in Nadwood, Louisiana to the late Henry Ray and Irene Madlock Ray.

At an early age, Christine gave her life to Christ while living in Scott, Mississippi and loved being in church. After moving from Mississippi in 1967 to Chicago and after attending several churches, she finally joined One Way Baptist Church in 1975, under the leadership of Reverend Bill Marshall. Christine’s passion was serving on the usher board at One Way Baptist Church, where she felt that she could help the most. Christine served on the usher board until she moved to Stockbridge, Georgia in 2012. However, she loved her church so much that her children had to call her brothers and sisters to convince her to move to Stockbridge, Georgia.

Christine loved her family and there was nothing that she would not do for them. After the passing of her mother, she had to leave school to help raise her younger brothers and sisters. She tried several times to finish school but stopped because she felt the need to spend time at home with her children and to help family members. She was known to embellish the truth a bit about her children and grandchildren because she was not having anyone else’s children out do her children or grandchildren.

Christine worked for Loyola Hospital from 1970 to 2004. For over 20 years, she worked as a union steward. She loved being a union steward because she loved helping people. She always had her brief case filled with information concerning a matter she needed to address at the union meeting. Over the 20 years as a union steward, she fought for her co-workers, jobs, better working conditions and better pay. After retiring, she would still get calls for advice on how to proceed on issues which she enjoyed doing.

Christine had a passion for life. She loved to travel. When it came to travel, all you had to do was say let’s go and her bags were packed and ready. She loved to play cards and taught her children to play cards and at times she and her children would play cards all weekend. She loved to cook and was known for having the best corn bread made from scratch. During Sunday meals, many of her children’s friends were known to knock on the door to partake in Sunday dinner.

Christine is survived by her lifetime partner, Leon Smith; children, Morris Ray (Loretta Ray), Henry Ray(Elizabeth Ray), Larry Stevenson, Joyce Stevenson Powell (Michael Powell), Patricia Stevenson Jackson(Sheldon Jackson), and Nathaniel Stevenson and siblings, Robert Nelson, Roylee Nelson, Pinkie Jackson, Louise Griffiths and Herbert Nelson.

She was preceded in death by her son, Charles Ray Wells, grandson, Henry Ray Jr.; granddaughter, Latrice Wells and brothers, Alexander Ray, James Nelson, Vivian Lewis, Alonzo Nelson, Willie B. Nelson and Clementine Nelson.

Christine was especially fond of her grandchildren and on occasion told her children that they could move but leave the grandchildren. She is survived by over 31 grandchildren and over 54 great-grandchildren, along with a host of aunts, uncles, nieces and nephews.

The Celebration of Life for Christine Ray Stevenson will be held on Saturday, February 6, 2021 at 12:00Noon at Horis A. Ward Funeral Home - Fairview Chapel, 376 Fairview Road, Stockbridge, Georgia 30281 with A Walk-Thru Viewing from 10:00AM until the hour of service. Burial will immediately follow in Fairview Memorial Gardens.