Esther E. Stephenson "Liz"

Mrs. Esther Elizabeth Stephenson was born to Charles and Esther Deloatch on November 28, 1941, in Conway, North Carolina where she spent her formative years. She later moved to Bronx, New York and would live there for many years and then eventually settled in Hopewell, Virginia. Esther, affectionately known as “Liz”, departed this world on September 27, 2026, at home surrounded by her loved ones.

Over the years, Liz played many roles in her life, one of which was a loving wife, mother, aunt, sister, grandmother, and daughter.

Liz attended school in the North Carolina Public School System. She was also a member of Allen Chapel Church in North Carolina. Later, she attended First Baptist Church of New Brunswick, New Jersey. She worked as a dietitian in a nursing home in Mt. Vernon, New York. She later became a Home Healthcare Aide, taking care of the elderly in which she truly loved. She loved helping people, especially her late husband and children.

On February 20, 1960, Liz joined in holy matrimony with the love of her life Otis “Bud” Stephenson, Sr. From that union, four children were born. Later in life they became parents through adoption.

In those years, lots of loving memories were made. Liz loved her family unconditionally. She was the person everyone wanted to be around. She was a mom to her nieces, nephews and neighborhood kids. Everyone loved to be at her home. She would always help anyone in need, and she always had such great stories to tell. We all know she loved to tell her “back in the day” stories. She loved to travel and create new memories with her family.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Charles and Esther Deloatch; two brothers, Robert and Wesley Deloatch; sister, Pearl Deloatch; and her son, Randy Stephenson, Sr. (Frances).

She is survived by her children, Elvis Stephenson (Cassie) of New York, Otis “Buddy” Stephenson, Jr. of Georgia, Bonnie Ingram (Ronnie) of Virginia, and Danielle Stephenson of North Carolina; brothers, James “Rabbit” Deloatch of New Jersey and Charlie Deloatch (Elayne) of New Jersey; and her sister, Clementine Pugh (James) of North Carolina.

She had twenty-one grandchildren: Charisse, Charelle, Tiffany, Randy, Patrice, Wesley, Ronnie, Otis III, Shaquanna, Rashawn, Isaiah, Tywanna, Jasmine, Robert, Jamal, Danielle, Vanessa, Natasha, Kristina, Frances, and Shellan. She also has a host of great grandchildren, great-great grandchildren, nieces, nephews, great nieces and nephews, as well as many other beloved family and friends.

Services will be held 1:00 P.M., Saturday, October 3, 2026, in the Chapel of J. M. Wilkerson Funeral Establishment, Inc., 102 South Avenue, Petersburg, VA. The interment to follow at Mt. Sinai Community Cemetery.

J. M. Wilkerson Funeral Establishment, Inc., 102 South Avenue, Petersburg, VA, (804) 732-8911, www.jmwilkersonsince1874.com. Watch the funeral services live online on our J. M. Wilkerson Funeral Establishment, Inc. Facebook page or click here to view: https://vimeo.com/event/6233904?fl=so&fe=fs