Ella Jean Flowers

Ella Jean Stephenson was born on May 5, 1933 to the late Carlie Ben and Rena Stephenson in Johnston County. She was the oldest of three children. Her siblings are Shirley S. Cotton of Angier and Carlie Judd Stephenson of Raleigh.

As the oldest child, Mom was many times next in charge to assist her Mother in all the chores of the house on the farm. This was the beginning of the use of her greatest gifts of love, nurturing and delicious cooking. Mom had a quiet sense of humor. One of her funny stories was of the times she dressed her baby brother up like a girl and pushed him around in her buggy. She said "he was too cute to be a boy".

She was a great Moma to Harold Clay Jr, born in 1954 and Diane Leah born in 1957. She taught us what matters. Faith, Hope, Love and Forgiveness. She made simple things fun, like making the mashed potatoes red and blue on a patriotic holiday or making doughnuts from canned biscuits and rolling them in powdered sugar. She didn't have a cutter, so she improvised with a thoroughly washed metal lipstick cap. Diane recalls sitting at Moma's feet one Saturday night as she stitched the final piece of lace of her Sunday morning dress. The sewing continued with Barbie doll and Chatty Cathy doll outfits and even prom dresses. Moma taught Jr to cook first, and he prepared meals to be ready when she and Daddy returned from work. Perhaps this is why to this day, Harold Jr knows his way around the kitchen.

Eventually, she went to work at the Department of Motor Vehicles on New Bern Avenue. She worked in the License and Registration Division for 35 years and forged friendships that lasted all her life and included weekend road trips (once all the kids were grown). Working in the phone room, she had the opportunity to use her sweet, kind voice to assist people. One of those callers was A.C. Snow. A.C wrote about their conversation in his News and Observer column, stating his excitement to speak to a "real life person, a polite and helpful Mrs Jean Flowers....."

In 1982, Moma became a Grandma to her only Grandchild, Laney. Laney was the light of her life until the end. Although she was still working, she always made sure to attend all of Laney's activities. Vacation days were dedicated to trips or just time at Grandma's house with Laney. They enjoyed the beach, mountains, fair and Outer Banks together. A favorite tradition was spending New Years Eve together, when they all stayed up until midnight. It was quite a party!

Moma also loved her children's spouses! Becky has been faithful to learning to make Mom's fried chicken and oyster dressing (not at the same time). Two dishes that stood out and were family favorites. While Mom was in Assisted Loving, Becky was faithful to spend time with Moma. Chris was also greatly loved and Mom would light up the minute he walked in the room. She said "it takes a special man to come into a little girl's life and love her as his very own child". Mom had great respect and admiration for Chris. When Laney married Michael, there was a new family member to love and Moma was so excited. Michael came into the family and immediately won her heart as he enjoyed her cooking (she didn't like to see people not eat a "sufficient" amount). He quickly noted they needed handrails at the back door and he built those. When Mom wanted about 20 Leland cypress planted entirely too close together, Michael took the shovel and got to work.

Five years later, the Great-Grand twins, Pearce and Lane Ford were born. She said it was the greatest thing that ever happened to her. The rest of us, suddenly dropped a notch...as it should be. "They come first" she would say. "I've lived my life".

Moma loved her Lord and served faithfully at Coats Baptist church, serving on various committees, teaching GAs, Acteens and heavily involved in WMU. Later, as she and Dad moved to Angier, they became dedicated servants at Angier Baptist. Again, involved with WMU and helping with Acteens after retirement. She sang in the Senior choir, helped with Busy Bags and loved her Angier Baptist friends.

After Dad passed and time took a toll on Moma's body and mind, it became clear she couldn't live alone. As she toured the Assisted Living and was shown her "apartment", she was so excited because it looked into the courtyard, and her door was right outside the Dinning hall. She said "it's the best room in the place". As much as this stage can be enjoyed, Mom did. She was loved by the staff and many called her Moma Flowers, Granny or The Princess. She was spoiled, and what a gift it was to be able to shower her with love and talk of sweet memories even if we had to repeat them in a few hours. Every card sent was enjoyed over and over as though it had just been received. Yes she did live her life. A life not filled with wealth, but those things that matter, with God at the center.

The family thanks you for every prayer, card, visit and kind word or deed. She entered the arms of Jesus on January 6, 2025.

Survivors

Daughter: Diane Flowers Pearce and husband Chris of Clayton. Son: Harold Clay Flowers, Jr. and wife Becky of Angier. Sister: Shirley Cotton of Angier. Brother: Carlie Judd Stephenson of Raleigh. GrandDaughter: Laney Ford and husband Michael. Twin Great-Grandsons: Pearce Alexander and Lane Michael Ford

Predeceased by parents: Ben and Rena Stephenson of Angier and her husband of 64 years, Harold Clay Flowers, Sr.

In lieu of flowers donations can be made to the Angier Public Library or Angier Baptist Church.