Gwen Ann (Johnson) Stephenson

Gwenyeth Johnson Stephenson, 77, of Crossett passed away on Thursday, June 5th, 2025, surrounded by family at Audrey’s Special Home in Hamburg, Arkansas. She was born on July 27th, 1947 to Vrelan and Edith Johnson.

Gwen wed her high school sweetheart Aubrey Lamar Stephenson, beginning a marriage that was a model of loyalty, devotion, and love, that burned bright for 61 years.

Gwen was a member of BeulahLand Assembly of God Church and then Crossett First Baptist Church, where she served the Lord and others for decades. She was endlessly involved in all things at Church, from singing in the choir, serving on various committees, teaching at Vacation Bible School, and endless amounts of volunteering. She could be found every Sunday learning about the Lord or teaching her Sunday School group that she called “my girls”. One of her greatest passions in life was Operation Christmas Child, a charity organization that provides Christmas presents to underprivileged children, which she supported for years. If you’ve seen Gwen at home in the past decade, chances are she was in the middle of knitting a cap for newborns in need.

Gwen graduated from University of Arkansas Monticello Magna Cum Laude as a Registered Nurse at the age of 40. She was the first in her family to graduate as a nurse, performing with such excellence as to receive the National Collegiate Nursing Award, and inspired numerous others in her family to pursue the selfless life of nursing. She promptly went to work at Morehouse General, starting as an RN in Med-surg before discovering her lifelong passion in Obstetrics, Labor and Delivery, and Nursery. In time she served as a certified Lactation Consultant and Childbirth Educator, and assisted the delivery of countless babies into the world. During her time there, she rose to manage the OB department and oversaw the hospital extension dedicated to Obstetrics. Throughout her time she also taught OB to student nurses, where her teaching methods were adopted and are still used to this day. Later, she worked OB, Labor and Delivery, and Nursery, at Ashley County Medical Center, as well as Geriatrics, helping those who suffered from Alzheimer’s and Dementia, the same disease she would later face herself.

When she wasn’t worshipping the Lord at Church, or caring for others as a nurse, she was living life to its fullest with never a dull moment. She spent every chance she could riding a horse, a dependable member of the Chemin-A-Haut Riding Club where she rode her favorite horse Blinko. She volunteered at LifeChoice and was instrumental in the recognition of her family’s Bethel Cemetery as a National Historic Site. She loved to play host in a home that displayed an eclectic yet perfectly “Gwen” collection of frogs and nativity scenes, and feed her guests with her renowned chocolate syrup. But above all else, Gwen loved her family. She spent every chance she could creating memories for her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren, singlehandedly founding traditions that became the cornerstones of family gatherings for years. She also loved to travel, seeing nearly every one of the fifty states with Aubrey, and the world, including the Holy Land of Israel, where she followed in the footsteps of her Savior’s life. Combining these loves, Gwen was a true matriarch in the way she orchestrated countless family vacations, including several beach trips to Gulf Shores and a nearly yearly trip to float the Buffalo River. She also taught Cub Scouts with her son and attended Playdays with her daughter. She loved her children so much, that she personally played matchmaker and set up both of her children with the people they would end up marrying. 

Gwen is preceded in death by her parents Vrelan and Edith Johnson and her sister Ellon Johnson. 

Gwen is survived by her husband of 61 years Aubrey Stephenson, children David Stephenson (Marie) and Candace Harriman (Corey), sister Libby Carter and brother Lelan Johnson (Marie), 6 grandchildren Matt Nubles, Megan Nubles (Clay Hughes), Stephen Stephenson, JD Nubles (Taylar Edwards), Courtney Kennedy (Corey), and Logan Harriman (Anna), seven great-grandchildren Lakin, Katie, Lily, Caden, Keaton, RJ, and Honey, and a host of nieces and nephews.

A Celebration of Life Service will be held at 10:00 a.m., on Monday, June 9th, at Medders Funeral Home, 1564 Hwy 52 W, in Crossett with Mr. Campbell Wilkerson and Bro. Donnie Dubose officiating along with honors presented by the Nurses Honor Guard followed by a private interment at Crossroads Cemetery under the direction of Medders Funeral Home. Pallbearers are Michael Carter, Mike E. Carter, Robert Carter, Logan Harriman, Greg Johnson, Stephen Johnson, Corey Kennedy, Matt Nubles, JD Nubles, Greg Stephenson, Stephen Stephenson, and Eddie Dodge.

Gwen's family will be accepting friends at the home of Gwen and Aubrey on Sunday from 2:00-4:00 p.m. (address listed below)

Visitation will be from 6:00-8:00 p.m., Sunday at Medders Funeral Home.

The family would like to extend a special and heartfelt thank you to the wonderful staffs of the Pillars of the Community, Audrey’s Special Home, and Hospice Home Care, as well as Judy Mason, Rita Rawls, and Martha Irvy. Their boundless generosity and compassion provided comfort for Gwen and much needed support to her family when it was most needed. May God bless them for their selflessness.

Gwen's family strongly encourages in lieu of flowers to please donate to the First Baptist Church of Crossett Operation Christmas Child Fund in her honor.  The address is found below.

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