Rev. Iseah Stevens

Pastor Iseah Stevens was born on May 15, 1917 in Basile, LA. to the parents of Edwin and Onise Simon Stevens. Iseah attended school in Bell City & Hayes, LA. The fear of God was instilled in him at an early age and he was baptized at Zion Travelers Baptist Church in Iowa, LA under the leadership of the late, Rev. Booth. He married, who he referred as "the prettiest girl in town", Ethel Noel on February 1, 1941 and to this union nine girls were born. On Wednesday night, November 13, 2013, Iseah left his earthly house to move into his mansion prepared by God. While in the hospital before he passed away, he talked about the walk he made to New Jerusalem in his Air Jordon tennis shoes. Iseah's first job was at Ed Taussig Car Dealership as a car maintenance man for ten years. His second job was at George Theriot's Grocery Warehouse where he was a truck driver for over 35 years; he was known to be a dedicated and trustworthy employee. He took on another job as a Janitor at Lake Charles Bible Church to make sure his family and church had what they needed; he worked there for 15 years and he was allowed to bring his girls to work with him. He was a deacon and Sunday School Teacher for years at Pleasant Hill Baptist Church under the leadership of Rev. Oneal King. For his faithfulness and dedication to ministry, he was ordained as a Minister in 1953. The first church he pastored was, St. Luke Baptist Church for three years. From there he was called to Zion Temple Baptist Church in Dog Hill, and there he was the Shepherd for forty-seven years. Iseah was also responsible for bringing missionaries from Elton, LA. to Lake Charles to teach V.B.S. in many of the local churches, he did this for about twenty years. He was always so eager to learn more and more about the word of God, so he attended Seminaries and Bible College to get knowledge to come back and feed the sheep that God had him responsible for. He received numerous certificates and awards for attending classes and participation in community services. He was a member of the Baptist Ministers Union for over 50 years, and the Calcasieu Baptist Association. The City of Lake Charles Mayor's Office presented him with a Certificate of Recognition in March of 2013 for 50 years of service as a Pastor in the community. Iseah was also known as "Old Testament" to his fellow laymen friends and church community. He mentored many young ministers in the area and allowed them to preach their first sermons at his church, many of them are now pastors and doing well. Iseah was also a contributor to many charitable organizations and Oral Roberts Ministries. The Fellowship Hall at Zion Temple was named after Pastor Stevens on July 29, 2012. Iseah was a Chaplin at Lake Charles Memorial Hospital & Christus St. Patrick Hospital for years. He loved people and never met a stranger; he was well known in the city and served until he became terminally ill. He was preceded in death by his parents, Edwin & Onise Stevens, brothers: Batson, Sr., Adam, John & Mark Stevens, sisters: Mary Stevens, Martha Silas, Rosa Mae Syas, daughters: Junita and Gladys. He leaves to mourn: his wife of seventy-two years, Ethel Noel Stevens, one sister: Eula Mae Williams of Lake Charles, seven daughters: Ethel (Robert) Goodman of Los Angeles, CA.; Rose Walker of Lake Charles, Elaine Stevens of Los Angeles, CA., Mary Jane (Earl) Jones of Houston, TX., Martha Jane (Louis) Basile of Lake Charles, Deidra Stevens of Lake Charles and Errika (Will) Simien of Lake Charles, LA. Thirty-one grandchildren and thirty-seven great-grandchildren; a host of nieces, nephews, relatives and friends, and a god-child: Rev. Terry Anderson. His funeral will be Saturday, November 23, 2013 11:00AM at Mount Calvary Baptist Church. Rev. Elmore Garner Pastor, Dr. Jimmy R. Stevens officiating. Burial will be in Combre Memorial Park under the direction of Johnson Funeral Home. Visitation will be Saturday, August 23, 2013 8:00AM-11:00AM at the church.