The Record Newspapers - Hometown News For Orange County, Texas

Our dear momma, Delores Ann Hardin Stephens, 78, went to be with her Lord and Savior on this Good Friday, April 10, 2020, joining her precious grandson, parents, siblings and other family members that she has missed so much. She was born the baby of 13 children on March 6, 1942, to Frank and Rosa Hardin. She was spoiled rotten from the day she was born; and if you knew her, it was evident. She was literally born and raised in the little house on Market Street and slept most of her childhood in her parents’ bed…and she was proud of it.

When she was 17, she married the one and only love of her life, Harry Stephens; and together they began Harry’s Appliance where she worked for many years. They were blessed with three children, and she was a devoted and loving mother, grandmother and great-grandmother to us all. We can’t imagine life without her.

Her parents were devout Christians and she grew up at Cove Baptist Church, accepting Jesus into her heart and was baptized on February 7, 1954. She attended church there until moving to North Orange Baptist Church in the mid Nineties, where she so loved her ladies’ Sunday School class and was a faithful member until her recent illnesses made it too difficult to attend. There she served on the kitchen committee, ladies’ groups and also volunteered at Orange Christian Services.

Although her life had disappointments and illnesses along the way, she also brought tremendous joy to us and so many of her friends and family.

She greatly enjoyed her years of roller skating, her bowling league years, yearly trips to the beach for Memorial Weekend with her sisters and all of our friends, watching her children and grandchildren in their sports or activities and telling the umpires how to do their job or running the concession stands at the Orange Youth Baseball fields and high schools.

If you ever had a burger made by Momma Dee, you knew it and wanted another.

And if you worked for her, you knew it was her way or the highway.

She loved serving in the concession stands, and our family is grateful that she was entrusted and given the opportunity for all those years.

She also worked at Weiner’s Department Store, Doctors/Renaissance Hospital and was a greeter at Wal-Mart where she made and continued lifelong friendships at each place.

She loved Elvis, Wayne Newton, Andy Griffith, Johnny Carson, Hallmark and her beloved Dallas Cowboys.

You did not want to interrupt her football game.

One of her favorite events was Mardi Gras.

She began riding in the parades with her niece and special great-niece whom she loved like a daughter, Zoe Robichaux, in Houma, Louisiana, for several years where she made many friends until Orange began its own celebration.

She loved riding on the float and throwing beads and having special treats for her grandkids and great-grandkids.

We want to thank her Mardi Gras crew for all of the loving-kindness that was shown to her all of those years, with a special shout-out to her niece, Lori & husband, Joel Ardoin, and James & Gina Simar for taking such good care of her (and her demands) on the float.

Our mom was preceded in death by her parents, her cherished grandson, Corbin Burnett; her five brothers, Whitty, Milford, Quincy (P.U.), Marshall, and Lamar (CoCo); and her four beloved sisters, Bernice “Sis” McGuire, Ruby Hardin, Jessie Sonnier & Audrey (Peggy) Love; her precious niece, Dottie Holt, and many close friends that she considered family.

She is survived by two brothers, Harold (Emily) Hardin and Bobby Hardin; three children, Desia Davis and husband, Carl; Gary Stephens; and Cristy Burnett Smith and husband, Phillip; along with her grandchildren, Derrick (Rebecca) Davis, Cody Davis, Michael (Melissa) Stephens, Brittany Stephens, Colby (Rhea) Burnett and Bailee (Jake) Burnett Maresh; her great-grandchildren whom she adored, Olivia Davis, Elliott Davis, Brayden Stephens and her new great-grandbaby, Sonora Burnett; her bonus grandchildren, Jordan Smith, Kaitlyn Smith, Lauren Smith and Madison Smith and many nieces, nephews and cherished friends.

We would like to give special recognition to Dr.

Calvin Parker and Lana Griffith and staff and her precious friends, Molly Hogan and Peggy Slaughter Aaron, for spoiling her and taking such good care of her these last years.

If you knew her, she was sweet, sassy and stubborn. Although we will grieve this great loss, we will grieve with hope. We are grateful she is no longer suffering and also for the life lessons she taught us about unconditional love and for pointing us to Jesus. Go rest high on that mountain, Momma. Give Corbin a kiss from all of us. We will see you soon.

She will be laid to rest at the foot of her grandson, Corbin, at Hillcrest Memorial Gardens on Highway 87 between Orange and Bridge City.

He will be moved there with her, and this made her happy.

Due to the current circumstances, we will have a private gathering of immediate family Wednesday for a small service and graveside and will hold a memorial as soon as it is safe.

We have cherished all of the texts, phone calls and messages and words spoken about our mom on Facebook and look forward to the many stories shared with us at her memorial.

Any donations can be made to the Southeast Texas Chapter of The Cure Starts Now Foundation that fights tirelessly for a cure for the cancer that took her precious grandson, Corbin, too soon.

Trust in the Lord with all your heart. Lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways, acknowledge Him. He will make your paths straight – Proverbs 3:5-6