In Loving Memory of Halena W.G Stephens

HELENA W.G. STEPHENS

July 5, 1954 – January 23, 2025

Helena Joanie Marie Christine Williams was born in 1954 on the south side of Chicago, IL, the youngest of 3 children and only daughter of Cleo Joseph and Hortense Marie Williams. Her mother died when she was two years old, her father when she was nine, and maternal grandmother died when she was a thirteen. With her brothers in military service during the Viet Nam War, Helena went to live with her aunt in San Diego. She graduated from high school, attended college, married and gave birth to her oldest daughter in 1974 before leaving San Diego.

With a brief move to Minneapolis, Helena and her young family settled in King County in 1976. She received her BA degree majoring in Political Science and Government from Seattle University in 1980 and began work as a clerk in the King County Superior Court. She had an infant daughter who was a SIDS death in 1982. and gave birth to her youngest daughter in 1985.

Working her way up to the position of Supervisory Clerk of the King County Juvenile Court, sparked a desire to work with young people to get involved in proactive positive activities that would encourage them to choose activities and paths for lifelong success. She left Juvenile Court in the late 1980s, serving first as Executive Assistant to the Chair of Washington State University Cooperative Extension-King County, and then as a Contract Monitor for Drugs! Draw the Line, a program by King County government to fund support for community organizations working with youth to opt for positive alternatives. Embracing lifelong learning, Helena became a Certified Training Professional from the University of Washington in 1993. This led her to work with the City of Bellevue Parks and Community Services Department in 1994.

During her 30 years at the City of Bellevue, Helena managed the Youth Link Program, including programs such as the Community Leadership Awards that honor children and teens for their contributions to the community, the Youth Involvement Conference, and the Youth Link Board, the 24-hour Relay Challenge, and Bellevue Youth Court. Helena was also active in Eastside Pathways, a community initiative bringing organizations and individuals together in East King County to improve outcomes for young people. Helena was instrumental in the initial development and start-up of the Parks & Community Services department’s Wrap Around Services program and served on the King County Children & Youth Advisory Board. She was a steadfast advocate of the City of Bellevue Employee Resource Groups. Helena was also a leader for Bellevue’s Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Anti-racism work, including leading many City work groups through courageous conversations around race. In her last position at the City of Bellevue she was a Policy Advisor in the Intergovernmental Relations Section of the City Manager’s Office.

In addition to being a public employee for most of her professional life, Helena was also involved in political, professional, civic and religious organizations. She was in the 1980 Edward Kennedy for President Campaign, worked for the Kennedy Campaign in Arizona, and became a Washington State Delegate for Kennedy at the 1980 Democratic National Convention. In 1988, she was a platform committee co-chair of the Washington State Jesse Jackson for President Campaign and a Jackson Delegate to the 1988 Democratic National Convention. She was Secretary of the Washington State Rainbow Coalition. She was a member and a Secretary of the National Conference of Black Lawyers Northwest Chapter, whose members were lawyers, legal workers and law students. She served on the board of the Washington Environmental Council and also was a member and President of the Executive Board of Washington Women in Need and served on other civic and community organizations throughout King County. Baptized in the Catholic Church, Helena and her husband have been 25+ year members of St. Therese Parish, and during those years she was a member of the Shades of Praise Gospel Choir, served on the Strategic Planning Committee, and as a member and then Chair of the Pastoral Council, led the completion of the current Parish strategic plan. She also served on the board of Eastside Catholic High School.

Among her awards and honors were: Best of Bellevue Outstanding Advance Bellevue Graduate (2002); Lewis Hine Award for Service to Children and Youth recipient by the National Child Labor Committee to 10 relatively unknown men and women given to those who devote extraordinary amounts of time and energy to improving the lives of young people (2006); Bellevue City Manager’s MLK Lifetime Achievement Award (2016); Washington State Bar Association Presidential Award of Merit to Alec & Helena Stephens (2019); Sophie’s Light Award in recognition for her years of service and dedication to the King County Children & Youth Advisory Board (2017-2025); Metropolitan King County Council MLK Medal of Distinguished Service (posthumous, 2025).

Helena Joanie Marie Christine Williams Grant Stephens is survived by Alec C. Stephens, Jr., her partner and husband of 34 years; their children Stephanie Nicole Flagg (Derrick), Vanessa Jacqueline Stephens, Alec C. “Tres” Stephens III (Laura), Dominique Nicole Stephens, and Michael Walter Klapstein Stephens; 5 grandsons (Noah, Payton, Nathan, Derrick II, and Michael R.R.); Goddaughter Nasya Sierra, M.D.; Spiritual Daughter Takiyah Weekes; Williams Family nephews and niece Ronald Williams Jr.(Madonna), LaVondra Lacey, and Joseph “Joey” Williams; and nephews, nieces, cousins, relatives and friends around the nation.

Helena’s Celebration of Life Funeral Mass was held on April 12, 2025 at St. Therese Parish in Seattle. Anyone interested in viewing the recording of the Funeral Mass can find it on the Parish website (st-therese.cc). Donations in Helena’s name may be sent to: Eastside Pathways, Washington Women in Need (WWIN), Launch, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, or World Central Kitchen.

We remember and honor Helena W. G. Stephens with our deepest love and admiration and are blessed that she was in our lives. May you rest in peace and in power, dearest Helena!