NEWPORT NEWS — Elsie Irene Stevens Jefferies was called home to the Lord on November 1, 2021, at the age of 88. Born in Manhattan, Kansas, to Russell Edward Stevens and Ada Mae Malone Stevens, she grew up in Kansas with her brother and four sisters. After graduating from Milford High School in 1952 and completing business school, she worked as the Deputy County Treasurer at the Geary County Court House. She met her husband, Paul James Jefferies while he was serving in the Army at Ft. Riley, KS, and they married in 1957. With her husband, she left Kansas for Germany, and then lived in Pennsylvania, New York, New Jersey, and Texas, before settling into Pleasant Valley, NY in 1987. She was a loving mother who raised her son, David, and daughter, Sharon, with kindness, strength, and love that have served as a lasting example. After Paul’s passing in 2002, she remained in New York until 2005, when she moved to Newport News, VA to live near her daughter. Elsie loved her family and friends and was known as a warm and gracious host who made everyone feel special and welcome. She loved to travel and enjoyed summers at the family cottage at Oak Point on the St. Lawrence River in NY. She is fondly remembered for her love for dogs, cooking, old English gardens, dancing, refinishing antique furniture, and Paris. She was a member of the First Christian Church.
Elsie was preceded in death by her husband, Paul; her parents, Russell and Ada Mae Stevens; her son, David; her brother, Donald; and her sisters, Marjory Grover and Lorene Blevins. She is survived by her daughter, Sharon Jefferies; her sisters, Velma Rowland (Wesley) and Helen Fisher; and several nieces and nephews.
Her life will be celebrated at a private service for the family. A graveside service will be held at the West Point Cemetery in West Point, NY in the spring. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to either the Peninsula SPCA (https://peninsulaspca.org) or Five Loaves Food Pantry (http://www.fiveloavesfoodpantry.org). Arrangements by Weymouth Funeral Home.