Mrs. Doris Stephens Ragan, age 87 of Piedmont, passed away Friday, April 10, 2026, at her residence. A Celebration of Life service will be held at 3 PM Saturday, April 18, 2026, at the chapel of Cherokee Memorial Funeral Home with Brother Brian Pesnell and her grandson, Stone Ragan officiating. Burial will follow in the Fairview Baptist Church Cemetery at 5295 Fairview Road, Gadsden. The family will receive friends from 1 PM until the hour of service at the funeral home.
Mrs. Ragan was a Christian first then a wife of 57 years, a Mama, Grandma and a friend. Mrs. Ragan was a native of Centre, AL, the daughter of the late Roscoe and Erma Morrison Stephens. She loved the Lord and singing His word, which she had been doing even before she could read. She raised her kids in the Lord’s house at Black Creek Baptist Church in which she worked in many ways. She was a charter member of Black Creek Fire Dept Ladies auxiliary. Mrs. Ragan received her GED & started to Gadsden St when she was 50 where she was an honor student and a member of the Key and Beta clubs as well as being listed in the Who’s Who in American Community Colleges. She loved music, especially piano, and before she was diagnosed with congested heart failure, she enjoyed being with the gang at The Cove Family Restaurant doing Karaoke, dancing and cutting up – she was the floor show. She was a very talented seamstress who made most of her family’s clothing when the kids were at home, even her daughter’s wedding dress. She had a very green thumb and loved working with and talking to her many flowers every morning. She loved red and attendees are invited to wear red to the service.
Survivors include her daughter, Ann (Louis) Murphy; Sons, Steve (Jennifer) Ragan and Brent (Brandi) Ragan; Grandchildren, Mandie Kiddy, Jordan (Deana) Harris, Jesse (Shayna) Ragan, Johnna (Daniel) Harper, Jake (Ally) Ragan, Stone (Valencia) Ragan & Chase Ragan; Great-Grandchildren, Seth Kiddy, Kade Manning, Addi Manning, Tanner Harris, Tucker Harris & Colt Ragan; Sister, Gwenith Johnson; Chosen Daughter, Nadine Ballard; Chosen Granddaughter, Sara Reaves.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Tracy Ragan, Brothers, Sammy, Elwin, and Azzlee Stephens; Sisters, Jessie Duncan, Ted Barnard, and Infant Martha Stephens.
The family respectfully requests no flowers please and in lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital in her memory.
Cherokee Memorial Funeral Home in charge of all arrangements
