Matthew Stephens

Matthew Carter Stephens, 52, of Spring, Texas, went to be with the Lord on Sunday, July 26, 2015.

Matthew, born Jan. 14, 1963 in Shreveport, La., was a seminary-trained pastor, a missionary to Prague, Czech Republic, from 1999 through 2003, and at the time of his death, a hospice chaplain.

Outside of his professional calling, he was a musician, a song writer and arranger, fluent in multiple languages, a lover and student of music across varied genres. But most important, he was a devoted husband, son, brother, uncle, friend and mentor/counselor. He earned his Bachelor of Arts in Humanities from the University of Houston in May 1992, where he minored in German. He earned his Master of Divinity from Gardner Webb University's School of Divinity in May 1996. The youngest of seven children born to Edgar "Ed" and Ruth "Beezie" Stephens, Matthew was fluent in German, Russian and Czech, and conversant in Spanish, Farsi and Vietnamese. He learned Greek and Hebrew while at seminary.

During his years in Prague, he was recognized for speaking Czech so fluently that he was invited to pastor a few churches there. He was also certified in November 2005 as an instructor of English as a Second Language.

Despite his life experience and intellect, he conducted himself with humility, and with a grace, dignity and love of others that resonated deeply with clients, family and friends, insisting at the end that his greatest achievement in life was his 22-year marriage to his wife, the former Becky Sue Rodgers, who survives him.

He was preceded in death by his father in 2007, and his eldest brother, Carey Duncan Stephens, in 2014.

Matthew also is survived by his mother, of Humble, Texas; brothers Brent and wife Apphia, of Bailey, Miss., Jeffrey and wife Sylvia, of Kingwood, Texas, and Timothy and wife Alison, of Greenville, S.C., and Phnom Penh, Cambodia; sisters Tracey Aaron and husband Mike, of New Caney, Texas, Allison Patella and husband Bernard, of Houston, Texas; and many beloved nieces and nephews, as well as great-nieces and great-nephews.

The funeral was conducted at 10 a.m. Friday, July 31, at Greenwood Village Baptist Church in Humble, with Pastor Dean Wood of Creekside Church officiating. A graveside service and burial followed at Rosewood Cemetery, 2602 S. Houston Ave., in Humble.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be sent to Greenwood Village Baptist Church, 20300 Cypresswood Drive, Humble, TX 77338, or to Creekside Church, in care of Pastor Dean Wood, Executive Suites, 24800 I-45 North, #102, Spring, TX 77386.