Sylvia Grace Brown

Visitation for Sylvia G. Calhoun Stephens Brown will begin Thursday August 22, 2024, from 9:00 AM until the time of the service which begins at 11:00 AM, at First United Pentecostal Church in DeRidder, LA with Rev. Chance Lewis, pastor, and Rev. William Nash officiating. Interment will follow at Rosepine Cemetery in Rosepine, LA. Funeral arrangements under the care and direction of Labby Memorial Funeral Home in DeRidder.
Sylvia Calhoun Stephens Brown, a long time DeRidder area resident, passed from this life to her heavenly home on August 18, 2024, at the age of 102 years and 7 months. She was born on January 7, 1922, in Pitkin, LA and lived in the Fullerton, LA area in her youth. Sylvia graduated from Pitkin High School, and shortly afterward married the love of her life, Earl G. Stephens in December 1940. Earl was in the CCC Camp near Fullerton along with several hundred other young men.
When WWII ended, and Earl returned home from the Philippines Islands, he and Sylvia made their home on property they purchased between Rosepine and DeRidder. They resided there until Earl died in 1986, except for a year when Ft Polk closed in the mid 1950's. Sylvia then married her second husband, Wilburn Brown, also of the DeRidder area. They were married for several years, until Wilburn died in 1999. Sylvia lived a long and blessed life, and her home was the meeting place for all the family.
In her earlier years, most of her siblings and families met at the "Stephens" home for Thanksgiving holidays. Their home was also the place the extended family visited many times during the years. Sylvia was also active in the household, helping her husband Earl in may gardening and farm activities. She was a very good cook, and expert seamstress. Earl and Sylvia, and their family, were members of First Pentecostal Church of DeRidder, and were faithful in support and attendance in her earlier years. Their children were active in the music ministry.
Sylvia was preceded in death by her parents, Rev. H.M. and Nina Eunice Cooley Calhoun; her youngest son, Chris L. Stephens; son-n-law, Jerry VanPelt; siblings, Willie (Millie) Calhoun, Joseph (Reba) Calhoun, Annie Moore (Edmond), James "Jim" Calhoun, Pauline (Preston) Phillips, Milton (Ellen) Calhoun, H. Milford Calhoun, and Jackie Calhoun.
Sylvia is survived by her children, Eunice VanPelt of Deer Park, TX, E. Grady (Nancy) Stephens of DeRidder, LA, and Dwight L. (Sandy) Stephens of Warrensburg, MO. Also surviving are two sister-n-laws, Pegge Calhoun, and Rose Calhoun Groch; 10 grandchildren, 15 great-grandchildren, and six great-great-grandchildren. In her latter years, Sylvia's sister-n-law, Rosemary Brown Evans, was her caregiver. Rosemary was very much loved and appreciated. An unfortunate fall in year 2022 brought on her death in September 2023.
Those honored to serve as pallbearer are pallbearers are Chris Chesson, Gerald McCain, Eric Moore, Dennis Phillips, Brandon Smith, and Sterling Smith.