Nellie Blanch Martin Crumbley Stephens was promoted to higher living on March 3, 2014.

She left this world peacefully with her family and a great host of angels at her bedside. Blanch was a long time member of Beechwood Baptist Church. She was retired from assistant manager of the school lunchroom and later as a keypunch operator with the Social Security Administration. She also served her church in many roles such as teacher, clerk and the meal preparation team. She was a fabulous cook with many great recipes. She was also a wonderful mother, grandmother and friend to many people.  

She was preceded in death by her parents W.E. (Will) Martin and Era Bell Martin, her brothers; Bud Martin and Earl Martin, two sisters; Miss Dessie Martin and (baby) Ida Odel Martin. She was also preceded by her childhood sweetheart and husband of 30 years Henry Crumbley, Jr. (1969) and her first born son Henry Forrest Crumbley (1963), and her loving husband of 39 years Clell Stephens.  

She is survived by three sons, Jerry L. Crumbley, Sr. (Vickie) of Hoover, Terry Stephens (Libby), Dennis Stephens (Melissa) of Gardendale; grandchildren Jerry Crumbley, Jr. (Michelle), Jennifer Rowe (Chris), Kelly Pendleton, Sam Stephens (Sarah), Keith Stephens (Amy), Lani Stephens Winslow (Joe), Jessica Lander, Tiffany Lander; Great grandchildren Jason, Josh and Landen Crumbley, Tyler and Anna Laura Stephens, Briahana and Justin Rowe, C.J. Pendleton;  and a host of cousins, nieces, nephews, aunts, uncles and friends from all over. She was loved by and all and will be truly missed.

The family would like to thank all her caregivers who assisted her these final years of her life.

A visitation will be held Thursday, March 6, at Ridout’s Gardendale Chapel from 5 until 8 p.m. Chapel funeral services will be held on Friday at 11 a.m. with burial following in Mt. Olive Cemetery.