Mrs. Ovia Ruth Stephens

Ovia Ruth Stephens of Riverview, FL passed away on Sunday, August 31, 2025.  Funeral Services will be held on Saturday, September 13, 2025, 9:00 a.m. at Ray Williams Memorial Chapel, 301 N. Howard Avenue, Tampa, FL 33606 with Reverend Dr. Benjamin Franklin, Officiating. 

Ovia Ruth Stephens was a native of Elba, Alabama and a resident of Tampa for 12 years.  She attended Coffee County Training School and Alabama A&M College and was a member of Sharon Hill Baptist Church in Cleveland, Ohio.  She was a homemaker and raised seven children in Cleveland, Ohio.

She was preceded in death by:  her husband, Reverend Ceather Stephens; parents, Columbus and Bessie Smith; brother, Columbus Smith Jr.; sisters, Ophelia Loman and Bessie Ruth Steele; son, Jimmy H. Graham; granddaughter, Tracey Lamb; grandson, Jeffrey Ferrell; great-granddaughter, Rolatriez Harris; son-in-law, Charles Oatman; niece, Mildred Eason; nephew, John Hester and many others.

She leaves to mourn:  6 daughters, Ovia Voncile Stephens-Oatman, Nea Hazel Tyler, Rea Franklin (Ben), Gwen Ferrell, Candace Stephens, and Alesia Thornton; 1 son, Ceather D. Stephens; adopted son, John Allen; 12 grands, 37 great grands, 17 great- great grandchildren; nieces, Maragaret Hester and Prophetess Lois McDonald; Chief Apostle Willie J. Steele, LaJuan Adams, J. Latoya Hester, Stacey Airall, and Ida Harris; nephews, Earl Loman, Ralph Arall, and Vince Smith; sister-in-law, Ann Smith-Thompson; and best friend, Willa Jones.

Visitation will be held on Friday, September 12, 2025 from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at Ray Williams Funeral Home, 301 N. Howard Avenue, Tampa, FL 33606.

Arrangements entrusted to Ray Williams Funeral Home, Rhodes & Northern, Owners

 www.raywilliamsfuneralhome.com

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