Mozelle Harris Stephens

On August 30, 1934, in Brooklyn, New York, Mozelle and Edward Harris brought a new life into this world, baby Mozelle.  She was affectionately called "Mo".   At the age of two, her mother died from breast cancer.  Her father, Edward, raised his daughter with his sister, Bertha.  Together, they raised Mozelle to become a vibrant and vivacious woman.

Mozelle started music lessons at an early age and became an accomplished pianist.  Educated in the New York City Public School System and a product of Girl's High School in Brooklyn, New York.  Mozelle accompanied many youth choral groups and furthered her piano studies at the acclaimed - The Juilliard School.

Mozelle accepted Christ on April 14, 1946, at Concord Baptist Church in Brooklyn, New York under the leadership of Reverend Doctor Gardner C. Taylor.  It was there that she met and ultimately married her husband, Thomas P. Stephens, Sr., "T.P."  They sang in the Senior Choir together for over fifty years.  When Mozelle was 15 and T.P. was 19 they had an opportunity to sing a duet.  T.P. didn't pay much attention to Mozelle until after he returned from serving four years in the Air Force and Mozelle had grown up.  They married in 1956 and their union resulted in the birth of three children, Caryl, Debra and Thomas, Jr.

As a young woman, Mozelle wanted to be a concert pianist.  However, her Aunt Bertha, who Mozelle considered to be a mother, discouraged her worried about the struggles she would face as a black woman in the 1950s.

Mozelle had several different occupations until she found her passion in education.  Mozelle retired as a Reading Coordinator from the Roosevelt Public School District in Roosevelt County, New York.  She taught at the Theodore Roosevelt Elementary School for over 20 years.  Once the school administration became aware of Mozelle's musical talents, she was assigned artistic duties such as writing and directing plays, coordinating graduations, and helping to direct the school chorus.  Passionate about her students, Mozelle did not hesitate to donate her children's gently used clothes, purchase food or supplies or provide a hug to her students.  She loved teaching young minds and instilled a spirit of curiosity and a quest for learning.

Mozelle taught these same attributes to her children.  While working full-time and raising a young family, Mozelle went to Queens College part-time and received a Bachelor of Arts in Special Education with a minor in Music.  Not satisfied and desiring to progress as a teacher, she decided to get her Master of Arts in Education at St. John's University in Queens, New York.  Her thirst for learning was never quite quenched and she continued at St. John's University to complete all of the course work for a doctorate.  This passion for lifelong learning was passed on to her children.  In their forties, Caryl received a Juris Doctorate from the University of Richmond, Debra obtained a obtained a Master of Arts in Business Administration and a Master of Arts in Accounting Management and Finance from the DeVry University Keller Graduate School of Management and Thomas received a Master in Business Administration from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

In 2001, after T.P.'s passing, Mozelle moved to Midlothian, Virginia.  She was an active member of First Baptist Church of Midlothian working with the Pastor's Aide Ministry and the Women's Ministry.  She also joined community choirs.  Mozelle was one of the first to join the Jubilation Community Choir sponsored by Salisbury Presbyterian Church.  For over 20 years, they traveled to nursing homes and gave concerts throughout the greater Richmond area.  Yet, that was not enough singing for Mozelle.  She also joined the One Voice Chorus and then a small subset of One Voice.  An avid traveler, Mozelle had the opportunity to sing with a group in Europe.  While in Europe, they sang at St. Peter's Basilica and sang for the 70 ^th anniversary of the invasion of Normandy.  Mozelle sang her heart out and loved every minute of it.  She promised God when she moved to Midlothian, that she would sign to glorify Him whenever she could.  Proudly, she kept that promise!

In June 2021, Mozelle moved to The Chamberlin in Hampton, Virginia and enjoyed numerous activities. She was an active member in the handbell choir and participated in numerous plays.  She made friends easily with her outgoing spirit, Mozelle was a social butterfly.  Her children quickly learned when not to call her because she was always busy with some activity.

Mozelle joined First Baptist of Hampton and was a faithful virtual member when she could not be there in person. However, she was no stranger to First Baptist.  For more than thirty years, she attended services at First Baptist when she traveled to Hampton to visit with her sister-in-law, Eleanor Bispham and her nieces and nephews, Yvette and Chiang Person, Paul and Sonia Stephens, Cheri Fleming, and Justin and Shalona Schreve.  She sang with the Christian Fellowship Choir for "Walk With The Cross" and occasionally sang with the Mass Choir for special occasions.

Mozelle loved reading and watching Sherlock Holmes detective stories, science fiction, horror movies, gardening and cooking great meals.  Throughout her short illness, Mozelle battled quietly, valiantly and with dignity.  She never lost faith or gave up on God's promises as she fought "the good fight' in her own way.  Her spirit of perseverance, love and tenacity will be ingrained in our hearts forever.

With a tremendous sense of family, Mozelle was a devoted and loving wife, mother, grandmother and great grandmother, aunt and friend.  Her legacy includes daughters Caryl (Alphonso), Hampton and Debra, Atlanta, her son, Thomas Jr., Boston, grandsons John Daye (Naudy), North Chesterfield, Alphonso Johnson III, Hampton and William Stephens, Boston, great granddaughter, Amelia Daye, North Chesterfield and a host of nieces, nephews and loving friends.

Mozelle will be waiting at the gates to welcome us into our Father's Kingdom and when we all get to heaven…Oh, what a celebration there will be!

Sing and play on Mom!

Funeral Service will be held at 11 a.m., Friday, April 28, 2023 at First Baptist Church-Hampton, 229 N. King Street, Hampton, VA 23669.  O. H. Smith & Son Funeral Home is honored to serve the family.