MEMORIAL CEMETERY
ANDERSON COUNTY, TEXAS

Born:  3 April 1946 - Palestine, Anderson, Texas Died:  1 April 1997 Father:  Wadell Cook Mother:  Celedar Hunt Spouse:  John A. Stephens

Services for Verdia Cook Stephens,  50, of Palestine, will be at 1 p.m. Saturday at South Union Baptist Church, 807 S. Dorrance St., with the Revs. Julius Session and Harold Jones officiating.  Burial will be in Memorial Cemetery under the direction of Davis Funeral Home. Mrs. Stephens died Tuesday at Trinity Mother Frances Hospital in Tyler. She was born in Palestine on April 3, 1946, to Wadell and Celedar Hunt Cook. Mrs. Stephens was a member of Morning Star Baptist Church.  She attended the Palestine schools, graduating from A.M. Story High School.  She was employed by Murray Corporation. She was preceded in death by her father and sister, Dianne Dickerson. She is survived by her husband, John a. Stephens of Palestine; mother, Celedar Cook of Palestine; daughters, Martha Jones of DeSoto, Shanda Stephens of Houston and Fran Elaine Stephens of Palestine; sons, Sidney Stephens and John A. Stephens Jr., both of Palestine; sisters, Gwendolyn Cook, Laverne Cook and Victoria Martin, all of Palestine, and Gail Patrick Louis of Houston; brothers, Pleze Cook Sr. and Morris Cook, both of Palestine, and Wadell Cook Jr. of Celina; and four grandchildren.

Verdia B, Stephens was born to Celeader H. Cook and the late Wadel Cook.  She was one of nine children. She was a member of Morning Star Baptist Church in Palestine, Texas. Verdia was employed at the Murray Corporation for the past 16 years. She loved to decorate and could take just about anything and turn it into something beautiful.  Verdia was a very giving person often putting others needs before her own.  She loved the Lord and it showed in her giving spirit. She was preced in death by:  her father, Wadel Cook; and her sister, Gloria Dianne Dickerson. Those who remain to meet Verdia in the rapture; her mother, Celeader Hunt Cook; her mother-in-law, Georgia Stephens; her husband, John Arthur Stephens; three daughters, Martha (Ronald) Jones of DeSoto, Texas, Shanda Stephens of Houston, Texas and Fran Stephens of Palestine, Texas; two sons, Sidney (Camille) Stephens and John Stephens, Jr., both of Palestine; four sisters, Laverne Cook of Palestine, Texas, Gail (Moody) Louis of Houston, Texas, Victoria (Raymond) Martin of Palestine, Texas and Gwen Cook of Palestine, Texas; 3 brothers, Waddel Cook of Celina, Texas, Plez (Val) Cook of Palestine and Morris (Deloris) Cook of Palestine; four grandchildren and a host of nieces, nephews, relatives and friends.

On June 16, 1992 in Palestine, Texas an angel was sent to Morris and Deloris Cook and they named him Ashton. He was a loving child and it was shown through his beautiful smile.  He loved 'His' church!  And he truly loved praising God's name as he stood in choir with his mother rejoicing, 'Come, let us worship the Lord!' Ashton leaves to cherish his memory:  mother, Deloris Moaning Cook; father, Morrisi L. Cook; brother, Aaron Morris Cook; two grandmothers, Hazel Rogers and Celeader Cook; his Mamma Elizabeth Wilson; and aunt and uncle, Mary and 'PatPat' Edwards all of Palestine, Texas.  he also leaves a host of aunts, uncles, cousins, relatives and friends.

The pictures and images used on the Memorial Cemetery pages were
furnished by the Anderson County Historical Commission and the pages
were compiled by Beverly Bailey Odom and Scott Fitzgerald.

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Copyright 2005 -
East Texas Genealogical Society and the Individual Contributors