Stella Parish Myers

Stella Parish Myers was born on March 24, 1936, in Ripley, Mississippi, to Houston Lowery and Charity Elliott. Her mother served as a dedicated housekeeper to members of the Ripley community, and her father provided a variety of handy-man services in the Ripley area, including his friendly grocery deliveries from the local market to their neighbors.

As a teenager, Stella worked alongside her mother assisting with her housekeeping duties in the Ripley community. Stella graduated from Ripley Colored High School and briefly attended Rust College in Holly Springs, Mississippi. After graduating from high school and studying college courses, she moved to Washington, DC. There she joined her dear sister, Mary, in the loving and welcoming home of their aunt Alice (Elliott) and uncle Lester Gibson.

Stella served as a housekeeper and babysitter to families in Washington, DC., before starting her career in the U.S. Navy Department. She served as a budget accounting clerk for over 30 years at the Navy Annex near the Pentagon in Arlington, Virginia, and at the Washington Navy Yard.

Stella met her beloved husband, Rev. French Whycliff Myers, at Union Wesley A.M.E. Zion Church. After their courtship, they were married there on March 24, 1958. She supported her husband with great devotion throughout his ministry to several churches as they raised a family together. Stella joined him for many years of visiting the sick and shut-in of the church. She faithfully served as the church pianist in support of the choir and during Sunday School services. She humbly served as a deaconess at Galbraith in her later years.

Stella was a wonderfully loving mother to her children and took great pride in watching them succeed. She was always supportive and understanding, with an open heart and a listening ear to all of their cares and challenges. She loved fresh flowers, going shopping, solving crossword and word-search puzzles, and putting together those difficult jigsaw puzzles; but she had no greater joy than playing the piano and singing. This would always bring a smile to her face and great delight in her heart. Her most

favorite songs were "This Little Light of Mine" and "Oh, Happy Day." Rest assured, because now, she is playing her tunes for the angels and dancing with her husband in heaven!

Stella passed peacefully into the loving arms of her Lord and Savior on Tuesday, August 12, at Vierra Falls Church Health & Rehab in Virginia. She leaves to cherish her precious and wonderful memory, her children: Karen (Gibson) Soto (Kenneth), Cynthia (Myers) Taylor (Peter), French W. Myers, Ill (Sharen, deceased), and Valerie D. Myers; her grandchildren: Kenneth, Jr., Benjamin, and Jonathan Soto; Naomi, Nina, Nathaniel, Noah, and Nicole Taylor; French W. Myers, IV, and Stephanie (Myers) Holliday; several great-grandchildren; her nephew, Charles Clifford; and many dear friends. Stella reunites with loved ones, including her parents, her husband, Rev. French W. Myers, Jr., and her dear

sister, Mary E. (Lowery) Clifford.

Stella's life and her shared memory is a delightful blessing to all of us. We will miss her, but will always remember her Love and her kindness. May she enjoy glorious peace in heaven, forever!