A celebration of life honoring Mrs. Naomi Hardy Stevens, 86, of Talladega will be held at 12:00 noon on Saturday, March 11, 2023, at Pine Avenue Church of God, Anniston. Pastor David Curtis will deliver the eulogy. Mrs. Stevens will lie in state at the church one hour prior to the service. Visitation will be held from 1-7 p.m. on Friday, March 10, 2023, at the funeral home.

To all that knew her, Naomi Hardy Stevens was kind, humble, loving and peaceful. Naomi began life’s journey on July 4, 1936 in Talladega, Alabama. She was the eldest daughter and one of ten children born to the late Alphonso Hardy and the late Annie Scott Hardy.

Naomi accepted Christ at a young age. She was a long time member of Talladega Church of God worshipping alongside her husband and family. During a portion of time as a member there, she served as Sunday school teacher. In later years, she attended Coosa Street Church before becoming a member of Pine Avenue Church of God. Being the oldest daughter, Naomi had the responsibility of caring for her younger siblings while her parents worked to make a living for their family. She attended Jennifer High School where she met and fell in love with the late Willie Ray Stevens. After completing high school, Naomi moved to Cincinnati, Ohio with her aunt, Iona Williams, to pursue a college degree in business administration. During her time in Cincinnati, she worked at the local Children’s Hospital as a waitress in the doctor’s cafeteria. At the age of 19, Naomi returned home and married Willie Ray on April 7, 1957, and to this union they were blessed with eight children.

Over the course of Naomi’s life, she worked as a home maker, caterer, cook and representative for both Blair’s Cosmetics and Avon. Her greatest achievement was being a loving mother to her children whom she adored. Her favorite past time was reading the Bible.

On the morning of March 3, 2023, God called Naomi to take her journey to her home on high. She was preceded in passing by her husband, Willie Ray Stevens; a daughter, Brenda Marie Stevens; parents, Alphonso and Annie; five brothers, Alfonso, Paul, Rayfield, Edward and Cornelius; and three sisters, Salome, Dewry and Laura Jean.

Naomi leaves to cherish her memory: four sons, Ray Stevens and Darius Stevens of Talladega, Alabama, Terence Stevens of Calera, Alabama and Gary (Victoria) Stevens of Stone Mountain, Georgia; three daughters, Rosalind Stevens of Talladega, Alabama, Norma Taylor of Gadsden, Alabama and Gloria (Bobby) Dukes of Wylie, Texas; grandchildren, Chiquita (Willis) Mayben and Nathaniel (Krista) Taylor of Gadsden, Alabama, Nastasia Stevens of Atlanta, Georgia, Tyler Stevens and Nicholas Stevens of Stone Mountain, Georgia, Christian Stevens of Nashville, Tennessee, Mikala Stevens of Waco, Texas and Peyton Dukes of Wylie, Texas; great grandchildren, Mya Mayben, Tianna Mayben and Brayden Mayben of Gadsden, Alabama Amon Sanders, Victoria Sanders and Ava Sanders of Atlanta, Georgia; one brother, Alex Hardy of Riverside, California; and a host of nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.