Ms. Aquila Stephens

Aquila Wynell Brown was born on October 3, 1964 in New Britain, CT to the late Levonia Brown, Sr and Beulah Brown. Aquila was raised in a Christian home where she attended Beulah A M E Zion Church. She sang in the choir, ushered, and she was also President of the youth choir known as The Buds of Promise. Aquila attended Bristol Eastern High School where she graduated in 1983. After she graduated Aquila earned a living working in the Medical Insurance Industry for 30 years. During that time, she was promoted to Supervisor. Aquila moved to NC in 2009 where she started to attend Mt Calvary. She would join and become an active member until her health failed in 2019. She sang in the Mass Choir. Although Aquila has 2 biological children, she has loved and cared for so many. So much so that while here in NC she started to provide childcare in her home to many children. This care gave working mothers the comfort in knowing that their children were being loved and cared for as if they were her own. The children were loved so much that they often cried when their parents came to pick them up. She formed a bond with so many children. She was affectionately known as “Gigi” by James Brown, Brianna Brown, Xavier Barnes “baby,” Dawson Phillips, and Xzavier Ward. She brought them to church with her on many occasions. While being a resident in a nursing home Aquila always had an encouraging word to share with other residents and the staff. She was well loved by everyone she encountered. Aquila was preceded in death by her parents; Wallace Crandell the bonus father who raised her; one son in law, Andre Talley; a bonus sister, Brenda Taylor. Her life will forever be cherished in the lives of her children, Viola Monique Stephens Talley of Bristol, CT, Jesale Stephens of the home; siblings, Levonia Brown, Jr of Hartford, CT, Lorenzo Brown, Sr of Souix Falls, SD, Thomas Brown of Springfield, MA, and Aretha Crandell of Bristol, CT; bonus siblings, Nate Bush, Patricia Bush, Jeff Bush, and Hattie Bush; grandmother, Suzanne Yopp; aunts, Betty Wooten (Roscoe) Regina Yopp, Vendetta Yopp, Yvette Yopp; uncles, Willie Yopp (Gloria) Thomas Yopp (Sandy); a host of nieces, nephews, godchildren, and cousins.

Tributes

Ms. Aquila Stephens

November 3, 1964 - April 18, 2023