File - Lighthouse Singers of Marin

Celebration Of Life For
Lady
HelenJamesHaynes Stephens
SunriseSunset
November 13, 1929
May 3, 2014
Wednesday, May 14, 2014 - 10:00 A.M.
Service Held
BEEBE MEMORIAL CATHEDRAL
3900 Telegraph Avenue, Oakland, California 94609
Officiating
Bishop Gordon A. Humphrey Jr.
HELEN JAMES HAYNES STEPHENS
“R em emb ering H er Lif e“
HELEN JAMES HAYNES STEPHENS was born November 13, 1929 in New Orleans, Louisiana to the
very proud parents of James Haynes, her father, and Idell Julia Albertha LaMott Haynes, her mother. She
was the only child born to this union.
Helen’s father, James Haynes was born June 21, 1887 in Vicksburg, Mississippi. His life expired on July
5, 1960 in New Orleans, Louisiana. He is buried in Providence Memorial Park, Kenner, Louisiana.
Her mother, Idell Haynes was born May 29, l898 in West Baton Rouge, Louisiana. She departed this
life on May 6, 1997 in Richmond, California. She is buried in Rolling Hills Memorial Park, Richmond,
California.
The only grandparent that Helen knew was her maternal grandmother, Mrs. Ella Jones, known as
Grandma Ella. Her date of birth was unknown. Her demise came in 1974 in the city of New Orleans,
Louisiana. She, too, is buried in Providence Memorial Park, Kenner, Louisiana.
Helen’s father-in-law was George Stephens, born August 6, 1894 in New Orleans, Louisiana. He departed
his life July 17, 1979 in New Orleans, Louisiana. He is buried aside his wife, Helen’s mother-in-law,
Juanita Liggens Stephens, born October 15, 1902 in Vacherie, Louisiana, departing this life on December
7, 1955 in New Orleans. Both father-in-law and mother-in-law are buried in Providence Memorial Park,
Kenner, Louisiana.
In the year 1939, at the age of nine, Helen was baptized at the First Evangelist Baptist Church in New
Orleans by the Rev. A. A. Gundy. Helen began piano lessons at age four. Her music ministry began at
age thirteen with her first pianist position. The following is a list of her pianist and directress positions
while living in New Orleans from 1942 to 1953:
Loving Four Tabernacle BC; Rev. E. L. Cooper; New Orleans, LA
Crescent Straight Life BC; Rev. Daniel Hawkins; New Orleans, LA
Pilgrim Rest BC; Rev. C. A. Duncan; New Orleans, LA
First Evangelist BC; Rev. J. L. Spears; New Orleans, LA
Ebenezer BC; Rev. Lawrence Landrum, Jr.; New Orleans, LA
On Wednesday, June 21, 1950, Helen was united in holy matrimony to her husband of 59 years, Arnold
E. Stephens at the First Evangelist Baptist Church, 1804 Willow Street in New Orleans. The ceremony
was officiated by the late Rev. J. L. Spears. To their union, three children were born, Reginold James
Stephens in 1951, Rene Jerome Stephens in 1954, and Rosalyn Johnita Stephens in 1956.
In 1953, Arnold and Helen departed Louisiana headed for Oakland, California in hopes of a life free of
blatant discrimination and racism, which prevailed in the South. Having no monies or reserved funds,
they took residence above the Solid Rock Baptist Church in West Oakland. Helen had been offered
a choir director position by the pastor, the late Rev. C. A. Washington, also of New Orleans, Louisiana.
After demanding that Arnold send her back to New Orleans because she did not like Oakland, Helen’s
father turned her right around and sent her back to Oakland. Arnold was working quite hard, attempting
to make California their home, so Helen’s father thought she should be helping Arnold. Upon her
return, they took residence with a dear couple from the Solid Rock Baptist Church who had no children,
Deacon & Mrs. Johnnie Smith. Now both deceased, they welcomed Arnold, Helen, and Reginold with
love, warmth, and open arms into their home on 55th Street in Oakland. They later became Reginold’s
godparents.
Mrs. Stephens immediate family tree is as follows:
Children: Reginold James Stephens born May 20, 1951 in New Orleans,
Louisiana (Son). Married to Lynette Hawkins Stephens.
Rene Jerome Stephens born February 12, 1954 in Oakland, California (Son).
Married to Bernether Lee Stephens.
Rosalyn Johnita Stephens born December 4, 1956 in
Richmond,California (Daughter). Married to Al Lanier.
Grandchildren: DeAna Lanier, Denise Lanier, Michael Stephens, Randi Richard and
husband James Richard II, Raina Stephens, Antonio Campbell and wife
Chanette Campbell
Great Grandchildren: Rene Lamply, Miles Lamply, LeAna Hunter, Nathan Stone,
Jamal Stone, Christian Stone, Michael Stephens, Jr., Jahmyl Stephens,
Jaydah Richard, Jaymie Richard, Komarii Jackson, Antonio Campbell III,
and Cristian Campbell
Sister-In-Law’s: Mildred Stephens LeBant born June 14, 1920 in New Orleans, Louisiana.
She passed April 21, 1992 in New Orleans. She is
buried in Providence Memorial Park, Kenner, Louisiana. She was
the mother of eleven.
Eloise Stephens Louis born April 7, 1923 in New Orleans, Louisiana.
She is the mother of seven. Geraldine Stephens Lewis born March 14, 1930 in New Orleans, Louisiana.
She passed March 2012 in New Orleans.
She was the mother of six.
The following is a list of the churches where Helen has served as pianist and/or director since residing in
California from 1953 to the present:
Solid Rock BC; Rev. C. A. Washington; Oakland, CA
Progressive BC; Rev. Edward Stovall & Rev. Earl Stuckey; Berkeley, CA
Mt. Zion Spiritual Temples, Inc.; King Louis H. Narcisse; Oakland, CA
Antioch BC; Rev. Robert T. George; Oakland, CA
Olivet Institutional MBC; Rev. Gordon A. Humphrey; Oakland, CA
St. Rest BC; Rev. Chester Riggins; Fresno, CA
Everett Chapel AME Church; Pastor Bernard Benson; Oakland, CA
California Baptist State Convention, Director of Music Rev. Dr. S. M. Lockridge, President
1959-1971
Helen’s education was obtained through the following institutions:
Graduated Booker T. Washington High School – June 1946;
New Orleans, Louisiana
Graduated Dillard University – June 1949; New Orleans, Louisiana
National Baptist Women Ministers Convention, Inc. – May 2004
Honorary Degree of “Doctor of Ministry”
Helen Stephens began “expanding her borders” in the late 1960’s with her membership in the Gospel
Music Workshop of America, founded by the late Rev. James Cleveland, now headed by Bishop Albert
Jamison of Brooklyn, New York. Helen, Ms. Fran Harden, and Ms. Sherline Hall McCoy traveled to
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania as the Stephens Singers. This was the third convention of GMWA. They
went by personal invitation from the Rev. Cleveland.
This began a forty year musical journey that has taken Helen criss-crossing the United States of America,
and to Japan. The GMWA inspired Helen and Fran to organize a community choir known as the Voices
of Christ from Berkeley, California. This choir traveled to the Gospel Music Workshop and many other
places from 1972 to 1988. At the time the Voices of Christ ceased attending the convention as a choir,
the Northern California Chapter of GMWA began traveling to the workshop and does so to this day.
The following is a list of recordings from the several community choirs and groups that Helen instructed,
directed, played, and sang with from 1965 to the present.
THE STEPHENS SINGERS of Berkeley, California; 1965
THE VOICES OF CHRIST from Berkeley, California; 1969
“Somehow I Can Sing”
“Fill My Cup”
“Beams of Heaven”
“Great Is Thy Faithfulness”
“I’m Glad”
“Gotta Move On”
“Until Whenever and Through Whatever”
“Wounded For Me”
GOSPEL MUSIC WORKSHOP OF AMERICA –
NORTHERN CALIFORNIA CHAPTER; 1970
“Breathe On Me” with Southern California Chapter
“Wait On The Lord”
“Victory Is Mine” with Dorothy Norwood
“Created For Worship”
THE LIGHTHOUSE SINGERS of Marin County; 1978
“See The Glorious Light”
“Lighthouse Singers – The Music of Steven Roberts”
HJHS served professionally as a music instructor at the following institutions of education:
California State University at Hayward 1975-1981
Family Light Music School of Marin County 1976-1978
College of Marin 1982-2000
Dominican College 1993-1998
West Contra Costa County Unified School District 2003-2005
Helen was very committed and dedicated to her bereavement ministry. She thought it an honor and
a duty to provide quality music for homegoing services. She played or sang at hundreds of funerals.
Her bereavement ministry included music services, upon request, to the following mortuaries from
1957 to 2000:
Harris Funeral Home; Berkeley, California
Jackson Funeral Home; Oakland, California
Fouche’s Hudson Funeral Home; Oakland, California
Pollard & Sons; Oakland, California
She rendered community service to the Marin County Art Council from 1992 - 1994, and the Eddie
Walker, Sr. Memorial Scholarship Fund.
Over the years, Helen J. H. Stephens presented, in live concert, many choirs and singers to the Berkeley,
Oakland, and San Francisco communities. Some of these artists were: The Raymond Raspberry Singers,
Professor Alex Bradford, Evangelist Mattie Moss Clark, Rev. Joseph D. Litton and the Progressive
Baptist Church Choir, the O’Neal Twins, Rev. Isaac Douglas, the Voices Supreme, Myrna Summers
and the Interdenominational Community Choir, the Institutional COGIC Radio Choir, Ms. Vanessa
Bell Armstrong, Rev. James Cleveland and the Southern California Community Choir, and BC & S, not
naming all.
In her lifetime, Mrs. Stephens received more than 225 (as last counted by Arnold and Reginold)
resolutions, awards, plaques, and accommodations from many cities, counties, state assemblies, state
senates, the United States Congress, and the White House. She received keys to the cities of Camden,
Arkansas; New Orleans, Louisiana; and New York, New York.
Helen and Arnold had an extended family of sons, daughters, sisters, and brothers that are very close
and dear to them. They are Mr. & Mrs. Richard Norman of Fresno, Mr. & Mrs. Keith Howard,
Torivia Whiten, A. J. Reed of Killeen, TX, Aaron Woodson, Timothy Phillips of Portland, Willie Binns,
of Portland, Rodena Preston Williams of Los Angeles, Frank Williams, Jr. of Los Angeles, Mildred
Williams of New Orleans, Tammie Miles, Tanya Jarvis, Phyllis Kinimaka, the late Judith Sapinski, Lydia
Haggerty, Ann Gold, and Louise Franz.
Having many, many friends and musical associates from across the country, Helen’s close musical family
is inclusive of Minister Steven Roberts, Minister Tim Poston, Minister Tom Hansbrough, Minister
Maverick Howard, Minister Kevan Peabody, Minister Ulis Redic, and Minister Patrick Bradley of
Dallas, Texas.
This document summarizes the dedicated and committed life of LADY HELEN JAMES HAYNES
STEPHENS ministry of music.
Helen J.H. Stephens
CELEBRATION OF LIFE
“Farewell To Mother”
Wednesday – May 14, 2014 – 10:00AM
MUSICAL PRELUDE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Parting View
PROCESSIONAL. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Ministers and Family – Lead by
Bishop James Adams
Pastor, St. John
Metropolitan Bible
Church of Miami, FL
PRAISE SELECTION. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Pastor Desmond Pringle
MINISTER OF CEREMONIES. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Bishop Gordon A. Humphrey
Pastor, Shiloh M B Church
of Chicago, Illinois
SCRIPTURES
Old Testament. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Pastor George Murray
City of Refuge Tabernacle COGIC of Oakland, CA
New Testament . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Rev. Gregory Hunter, Pastor
Olivet Institutional BC of Oakland, CA
PRAYER. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Bishop Charles E. Dickerson
Pastor, Anew Pearly Grove Full Gospel BC of Fresno, CA
MUSICAL SELECTION. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Northern California Chapter – GMWA
Directed by Minister Steven Roberts
EXPRESSIONS OF FRIENDS (3 minutes each). . . . . . . Ms. Torivia Whiten of Sacramento, CA
Mr. Frank Williams, Jr of Los Angeles, CA
Mr. A. J. Reed of Killeen, TX
OBITUARY. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (Please Read At Your Convenience)
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS OF CARDS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Lady Connie Joseph
MUSICAL SELECTION. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Helen J. H. Stephens – Young Adult Voices
Directed by Minister Jeffrey Williams
SPECIAL EXPRESSIONS (3 minutes each) . . . . . . . .
Lady Rodena Preston of Los Angeles, CA
Minister Patrick Bradley of Dallas, TX
Mrs. Laura Howard of Lafayette, CA
MUSICAL SELECTION. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Lighthouse Singers of Marin County – Alumni
Directed by Ms. Deborah Rae Thompson
PASTORAL EXPRESSIONS (3 minutes each) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Rev. Dr. Charley Hames, Jr.
Pastor, Beebe Memorial Cathedral – Oakland, CA
Rev. A. Wayne Johnson
Pastor, Morning Star BC – Portland, OR
Dr. Gregory Payton
Pastor, Greater St. John M B C – Oakland, CA
Bishop Yvette A. Flunder
Pastor, City of Refuge UCC – Oakland, CA
Bishop Keith L. Clark
Pastor, Word Assembly Family of Churches – Oakland, CA
MUSICAL SELECTION. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Voices of Christ
Directed by Parrish Thompson
RESOLUTIONS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Lady Nona Brown
FAMILY REFLECTIONS (3 minutes each). . . . . . . . . . . . . Denise Lanier – Granddaughter
Mrs. Sylvia Norman – Daughter In The Lord
SERMONIC HYMN . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Minister Edwin Hawkins
EULOGY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Bishop Albert L. Jamison, Sr.
Chairman, Gospel Music Workshop of America
Pastor, Pleasant Grove Full Gospel Tabernacle
Brooklyn, New York
CLOSING OF THE BRIER . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Internment
Reginold, Rene, and Rosalyn
RECESSIONAL . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Rolling Hills Memorial Park
Richmond, CA
Burial Service Officiated by
Rev. A. Wayne Johnson
Pallbearers
Back Cover
Information Needed
Mr. Antonio Matier Mr. Iras Keith Comeaux Mr. Hank Dunn Mr. Aaron Woodson
Mr. Corvin Tademy
Mr. Stephen Johnson
Helen James Haynes Stephens
Celebration of Life
Acknowledgements
Funeral Arrangements Entrusted To: C. P. Bannon Mortuary
Coordinator of Services: Dr. Kenneth Hall
Publicist: Ms. Denisha Delane; FAITH IN THE BAY
Program Layout and Printing: MemoriesINK, Inc.
Photography: Mr. Ron Boston
Floral Arrangements: Ms. Helen Granger
Mother’s Home Church: OLIVET INSTITUTIONAL BAPTIST CHURCH
Bishop Gordon H. Humphrey; Pastor Greg Hunter
Funeral Venue: BEEBE MEMORIAL CATHEDRAL
Rev. Dr. Charley Hames, Jr.; Senior Pastor
Mother’s Doctor: Dr. H. Geoffrey Watson
Home Health Care provided by: HORIZON HOME HEALTH
Hospice Care provided by: ACE HOSPICE
SPECIAL THANKS EXPRESSED TO:
Mrs. Laura Howard
Ms. Gloria Cobb Ms. Yolanda Clark Ms. Mabel White Pastor George Murray
Deacon Rodney Green Ms. Gloria Carter
Ms. Tammie Miles
Ms. Tanya Jarvis
Pastor Benjamin Blackmon
Mrs. Karen Dumas
I Have A Place In Heaven
Please don’t sing sad songs for me, forget your grief and fears,
for I am in a perfect place, away from pain and tears.
I’m far away from hunger, and hurt and want and pride.
I have a place in heaven, with the Master at my side.
My life on earth was very good, as earthly life can go,
but paradise is so much more than anyone can know …
My heart is filled with happiness, and sweet rejoicing too,
to walk with God is perfect peace a joy forever new.