Debbie Stephens

Deborah (Debbie) Elaine Ellis Stephens was born on October 6, 1954 in Gainesville, Florida while her father was a student at the University of Florida.  She transitioned to her eternal home in heaven on September 12, 2025 at 70 years of age surrounded by her family after a brief battle with pancreatic cancer.  In her early years, her family lived in several states including Florida, Louisiana, Alabama and Tennessee, and then the family did mission work in New Zealand for a year while Debbie was 8-9 years of age.  Ultimately, the family ended up in Baton Rouge by the time Debbie was in junior high.  She graduated from Tara High School in 1972, from Freed-Hardeman University in 1976 with an Elementary Education degree; and later, she received a Master’s in Education with specialty in Reading from Western Kentucky University.

She met Barry Stephens during her first semester at Freed-Hardeman.  They married following their sophomore year – on June 10, 1974 – and enjoyed 51 years of marriage.  She was the perfect preacher’s wife, and was an encourager to and partner with Barry in ministry with churches in Tennessee, Louisiana, Oklahoma, Kentucky, and finally Texas where Barry served as the Senior Minister for the Monterey church for 23½  years before retiring two years ago.  Debbie loved children and was involved in either beginning or leading Cradle Roll Ministries in all the churches they served.  She was also involved in women’s ministry, in more recent years, serving as a table leader for the Wednesday morning Ladies’ Bible class at Monterey.  She and Barry hosted small groups in their home throughout their ministry, and they had the privilege of participating in mission trips to numerous countries including Kenya, Rwanda, Tunisia, Germany, England, Hungary, Jamaica, and Mexico.

She taught school for three years in Kentucky, seven years in Louisiana, and then taught in Monterey’s Sugar N Spice Pre-School for approximately 15 years.

Her family was at the heart of her life.  She was deeply devoted to her three children, enjoyed attending all of their activities while they were growing up, and was so proud of them and their families.  And her grandchildren were the delight of her life; she was Grammy to her seven grandchildren.

Her quiet spirit was marked by a deep faith in God, an unwavering hope of the future, and a genuine love for all people.  She let the light of Jesus shine in all that she did.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Ralph & Elaine Ellis.  She is survived by her husband of 51 years, Barry Stephens; by a daughter, Jennifer Block and her husband Dave of Cassapolis, Michigan; by two sons – Benjamin and his wife Kristina of Sunnyvale, Texas, and Phillip and his fiancé Briana Vela of Lubbock; by seven grandchildren – Kevin, Molly and Hannah Block, and Finleigh, Carter, Lucas and Evelynn Stephens; by three brothers – Bill Ellis and his wife Michelle of Blairsville, Georgia; Andy Ellis and his wife Tammy of Baton Rouge, Louisiana; and Randy Ellis and his wife Dayna of Central, Louisiana.

The family is profoundly grateful for the multitude of ways they have been loved and supported during these past few weeks – with special thanks for our church family at Monterey, and to an incredible team of medical professionals in Lubbock.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations to the Children’s Ministry at Monterey Church of Christ; the Kabunda School at Uzima (Kenya); or the Monterey Foundation.