Albany - Viola Kolu Stevens (affectionately called Aunty and Aunty V), passed away peacefully at home with her family and friends by her side on December 7, 2022. Viola was 84 years young. She was the daughter of late Daniel Korvah and Korpo Sefani Stevens.  Aunty Viola was born on March 15, 1938, in Zorzor Lofa County, Liberia, West Africa, she was the first child of the Stevens’ family.

 Grandma Vi moved from Lofa to Monrovia in 1962 with her husband, the love of her life, the late Joseph Barney Taylor, Sr. She began her nursing career as a medical secretary at the ELWA Hospital and continued as a Certified Nurse Assistance after arriving in the United States at the Albany County Nursing Home, where she worked for 33 years.  Viola is survived by her 4 loving children, Joseph Barney Taylor, Jr. and his wife Wendy Maragh Taylor, Reginald Korvah Taylor and his wife Linda Taylor, Felecia Korpo Taylor Parris, and Ophelia Giduo Taylor Amegashie.  Grandma Vi will forever be missed by her grandchildren whom she adored above all else, Reginald Parris, Channette Parris Walker, Reginald Taylor, Viola Taylor, Ophelia Taylor, Leah Taylor, Phebe Taylor and the late Mawuena Yesuto Amegashie .   Great-grandchildren, Siamara Parris, Destiney Parris, Parris Nevaeh Walker, Chanel Blessing Walker.  Sisters, and brothers, Deddeh Stevens Kallon, Nancy Stevens Muyenneh, Geneva Stevens, Cecelia M. Dorbor, Famonta Stevens, Kyae Stevens, Simon Stevens, and Aloysius Stevens. She also leaves behind a host of nephews, nieces, grandnephews and grandnieces in both Liberia and the United States to cherish her memory.

 Viola devoted her life to her Church, and her children.  She served as a Stephen Minister/Caring Ministry through her church at St. Paul’s Ev. Lutheran Church of Albany, NY.  She was also the first to establish an African Organization, the first Liberian Capital District Organization as President.

Viola had an amazing way of caring for everyone she came across.  She had this huge compassion for community. There was no one she didn’t love.  Cooking was also one of her passions, and she made that known by making sure everyone she knew had her cooking, and when I say everyone, it was folks in the African community, coworkers, formal coworkers, church members, and next-door neighbors.  Forever in our hearts, Viola’s beautiful heart and smile shall remain until we meet again in Heaven.

 A Service of remembrance and thanksgiving will be held on Saturday, December 17, 2022, from 12p.m. at Unity Lutheran Church, 1500 Western Avenue, Albany, NY 12203.  A calling hour will be held prior to the service at church from 11:00 – 12:00. A repass being held following the Service in the Church Hall.