Velma Lynn Darbo Brown Stevens

1921 - 2015

Velma Lynn Darbo Stevens passed away early Monday morning, April 27, 2015. Mrs. Stevens was 94 years old. Memorial service: 2 p.m. Wednesday in the chapel at Robertson Mueller Harper, with David Erskine officiating. She will be laid to rest privately in Greenwood Memorial Park. Family and friends will be received 1 to 2 p.m. Wednesday at the funeral home. Memorials: In lieu of flowers, consideration of online contributions to Christ to the World Ministries or mail donations to CTTW Ministries, Box 360, Judson, Texas 75660-9989, in her memory, is suggested. Velma was born Feb. 20, 1921 in Jeffersontown, Ky. She was the only child of her parents, Carl Darbo, a first-generation immigrant from Oslo, Norway, and Abbie Keithley Darbo, a descendant of a Revolutionary War soldier. For 18 years she was an editor for the Sunday School Department, Baptist Sunday School Board, in Nashville, Tenn. In 1967, Velma married Dr. H.C. Brown Jr., professor of preaching at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth. Following Dr. Brown's death in 1973, she authored three books. One of those books, "After Weeping a Song," was about her widowhood experience. In 1980, Velma married Vance L. Stevens, a retired civilian employee of the U.S. Air Force, Department of Defense. Following Vance's death in 1986, Velma continued her ministry by preparing online study guides for Christ to the World. Most recently, she authored prayer devotionals that appeared in Arborlawn United Methodist Church's "The Vine." Survivors: In addition to a stepdaughter, Sherry Baugh and her husband, Bob, Velma is survived by stepgrandchildren, Chad and Heather Hughes; great-grandson, Liam; her longtime caregiver, Elizabeth Roper; and friends, David and Marie Erskine.