Rachel Stephens

MALDEN - Rachel Cardella Stephens, 92, died Feb. 2, 2004, at the Ridgeview Nursing Center.

Born March 22, 1911, in Greely, daughter of the late James C. and Sarah Jane Shaw Barton, she was a member of Mount Zion General Baptist Church.

On Sept. 12, 1931, at Caruthersville, she married Lester Stephens who preceded her in death on Oct. 11, 1985.

Survivors include: four daughters and two sons-in-law, Jewell and Steve Bell of Dexter, Betty Bernice and Bill Williams of Pacific, Wanda Marriott of Malden and Hazel Floyd of Shell Knob; four sons and daughters-in-law, Jerry and Gwen Stephens of Clearwater, Fla., Gary and Dian Stephens of Bowling Green, Ky., Junior and Dorothy Stephens of Osceola, Ark., and Lindell and Suzette Stephens of Risco; one sister, Tinia Skaggs of Antioch, Calif.; and 26 grandchildren, 53 great-grandchildren and four great-great-grandchildren.

Also preceding her in death were one son, Darrel Stephens; one grandson, Christopher Herring; one brother, Edgar Barton; and five sisters, Beatrice Ward, Mamie Ayers, Esther Richardson, Ava Barton and Lennie Shelton.

Services were conducted at 2 p.m. today at Bradshaw Funeral Home with the Rev. Joe Williams officiating.

Burial followed in Memorial Park Cemetery in Malden.