Obituary for Betty Ruth Stephens (Kenney)
Services for Betty Ruth Stephens, 89, of Gilbert, LA, will be held on Thursday, September 22, 2022, at Apostolic Faith Chapel 10:00 A.M. in Gilbert, LA with Rev. James Harris, and Rev. Clay Nichols officiating under the direction of Young’s Community Funeral Home of Winnsboro. Interment will follow in South Central Cemetery.
The family will receive friends and family for visitation on Wednesday, September 21, 2022, from 5:00 P.M.–7:30 P.M. at Apostolic Faith Chapel in Gilbert.
Betty Ruth was born to the union of Willie Eugene “Gene” Kenney and Mary Kimball Kenney on Tuesday, February 14, 1933, in the swamp at Kendrick’s Ferry as the middle child of eleven. Never one to shy away from hard work, Betty Ruth preferred working in the field with the men of the house to cooking with the women, even going as far to pay her brothers to let her take their place. Betty Ruth met the love of her life, Webster, at a baseball game in Crowville, and despite him being smitten, she brushed him off until she had to go on double dates with her sister Margie and Webb was finally able to woo her. Webster and Ruth settled into their homestead in Gilbert and built their family there, eventually welcoming their children, Sheila, Donald, and Tina.
Betty Ruth was a talented seamstress and quilter producing beautiful garments and quilts over the years. After raising her children, Betty Ruth put her cooking skills to work at Gilbert School for over twenty years, eventually retiring as the cafeteria manager. Betty Ruth and Webster enjoyed traveling around the country on road trips with their special friends and they always came home with many a story to tell about their adventures. She loved her family and always kept her siblings and children’s families close cooking Sunday dinner after church where anyone was welcome and certainly wouldn’t leave hungry. Betty Ruth was a faithful servant at Apostolic Faith Chapel in Gilbert always greeting everyone with a smile and something to eat. Betty Ruth was particular about how she wanted things done up until her final moments where she passed peacefully at home with beloved family and friends surrounding her on Tuesday, September 20, 2022.
She is preceded in death by her parents, Gene and Mary Kenney; spouse, Webster K. Stephens; daughter, Tina Stephens Wall; siblings, Amos Kenney, Henry “Tomboy” Kenney, Bernice Gillespie, Tillman “Hoss” Kenney, Louella “Sister” Boothe, Willie Eugene “Sonny” Kenney, Lillie Roberts, and Chester Kenney.
Survivors left to cherish her memory are her children, Sheila Williamson; and Donald Stephens and wife Pat; grandchildren, Eric Wall, Cary Williamson, Glen Wall and wife Sandee, Courtney Williamson, Beth Stephens, Johnathan Stephens and wife Ashley; five great-grandchildren; 4 great-great-grandchildren; one sister, Margie Roberts Walker; and one brother, Phillip Kenney and wife Jan. She is also survived by a host of nieces, nephews, friends, and family.
Pallbearers will be Cary Williamson, Glen Wall, Johnathan Stephens, Gary Martin, Bubba Ferguson, and Bill Caldwell.
The family will receive friends and family for visitation on Wednesday, September 21, 2022, from 5:00 P.M.–7:30 P.M. at Apostolic Faith Chapel in Gilbert.
Betty Ruth was born to the union of Willie Eugene “Gene” Kenney and Mary Kimball Kenney on Tuesday, February 14, 1933, in the swamp at Kendrick’s Ferry as the middle child of eleven. Never one to shy away from hard work, Betty Ruth preferred working in the field with the men of the house to cooking with the women, even going as far to pay her brothers to let her take their place. Betty Ruth met the love of her life, Webster, at a baseball game in Crowville, and despite him being smitten, she brushed him off until she had to go on double dates with her sister Margie and Webb was finally able to woo her. Webster and Ruth settled into their homestead in Gilbert and built their family there, eventually welcoming their children, Sheila, Donald, and Tina.
Betty Ruth was a talented seamstress and quilter producing beautiful garments and quilts over the years. After raising her children, Betty Ruth put her cooking skills to work at Gilbert School for over twenty years, eventually retiring as the cafeteria manager. Betty Ruth and Webster enjoyed traveling around the country on road trips with their special friends and they always came home with many a story to tell about their adventures. She loved her family and always kept her siblings and children’s families close cooking Sunday dinner after church where anyone was welcome and certainly wouldn’t leave hungry. Betty Ruth was a faithful servant at Apostolic Faith Chapel in Gilbert always greeting everyone with a smile and something to eat. Betty Ruth was particular about how she wanted things done up until her final moments where she passed peacefully at home with beloved family and friends surrounding her on Tuesday, September 20, 2022.
She is preceded in death by her parents, Gene and Mary Kenney; spouse, Webster K. Stephens; daughter, Tina Stephens Wall; siblings, Amos Kenney, Henry “Tomboy” Kenney, Bernice Gillespie, Tillman “Hoss” Kenney, Louella “Sister” Boothe, Willie Eugene “Sonny” Kenney, Lillie Roberts, and Chester Kenney.
Survivors left to cherish her memory are her children, Sheila Williamson; and Donald Stephens and wife Pat; grandchildren, Eric Wall, Cary Williamson, Glen Wall and wife Sandee, Courtney Williamson, Beth Stephens, Johnathan Stephens and wife Ashley; five great-grandchildren; 4 great-great-grandchildren; one sister, Margie Roberts Walker; and one brother, Phillip Kenney and wife Jan. She is also survived by a host of nieces, nephews, friends, and family.
Pallbearers will be Cary Williamson, Glen Wall, Johnathan Stephens, Gary Martin, Bubba Ferguson, and Bill Caldwell.