Ms. Lynette M. Stephens

June 5, 1958 - May 27, 2014

Lynette Michelle Stephens was born June 5, 1958 to Neal Archie Stephens and Elizabeth Dean Stephens in Washington, D.C. She attended District of Columbia Public schools, graduating from Spingarn High School. She also attended the University of the District of Columbia. In 1980 Lynette began her career with AT&T where she showed her great work ethic, receiving many accolades and awards. Few people know that during her years working for AT&T, she picked up a part-time job working for The Washington Times. While delivering papers, she caught the eye of one security guard named Mark Smith, who later became her fiancé. Lynette would work and do whatever it took in order to provide for her family. 31 years later, Lynette retired from AT&T, stating that it was time to enjoy life and spend time with family. Lynette was a strong, intelligent and caring woman who was never afraid to speak her mind, no matter who it was directed to. She made sure that she kept her children in line, along with most of their friends. She was always there for all of her sons’ events. Whether it was attending school events or attending her son Michael’s football games, she never missed a beat. She was always their biggest fan. She was even supportive of lots of family members and friends as well. Lynette was affectionately known as Aunt Nette , Nanny or simply “Ma”. She was loved and respected by everyone. Upon retirement, the real Lynette began to really shine through. You couldn’t tell her anything. She began traveling more and really doing one of her most favorite hobbies, Shopping!!!!! Lynette would shop for any and every one, pets included. But the one person that she absolutely loved shopping for and with, was her granddaughter, or if you let her tell it, her Little Tomato. Lynette departed this life on May 27th 2014 at Washington Hospital Center with her family by her side. She leaves to cherish her memory her father, Neal Stephens, her brother Keith Stephens, her aunt Ollie Cohen, her sister in law Patricia Stephens, two sons Michael (Detra) Stephens and Marquis Stephens “Baby Boy”, her fiancé Mark Smith, nephews Kenneth (Tonya) Avent and Blair Stephens, her niece Andrea Stephens, her precious granddaughter Sierra Stephens A.K.A. Tomato, 3 great nieces Skylar Stephens, Kennedi Avent and Kassidi Avent, 2 great nephews Vernon Campbell Stephens and Ayden Jones, her special daughter Zaneta Watson, and her beloved cat Felix. She also leaves a host of other family and friends that she welcomed into her life and was sure to be a part of theirs. Lynette was preceded in death by her loving mother Elizabeth Dean Stephens and her nephew Vernon Maurice Stephens. “Earth hath no sorrow that heaven cannot heal”