A soldier, private first class Lloyd Price, sang one of the family’s favorite hymns at the services. He drew a number of tears and amens from the congregation.
On September 14, 1967, Herman J. Stephens also known as Scatter was laid to rest in the same manner he lived, grandiose style.
His funeral, held at theEastMt.ZionBaptistChurchat9990 Euclid Avenue, drew a huge crowd of family, friends, admirers and spectators who celebrated his homegoing. The evening edition headlines of the Cleveland Press Newspaper flashed, “3000 Attend Rites for H.J. Stephens.” The Press wrote, “The church was jammed before noon and by the time the Rev. Dr. John T. Wheeden, pastor of St. Timothy Baptist, opened the service at 2 p.m., more than 3000 persons were assembled outside.”
Our own Connie Harper, of the Call & Post, attended the funeral. She vividly recalls that “an orchid was given to every woman who attended. The crowd was so large that most of the people could not get into the church and had to stand outside.”
A soldier, private first class Lloyd Price, sang one of the family’s favorite hymns at the services. He drew a number of tears and amens from the congregation.
This was just a portion of the final story in the Scatter series entitled Laying a street legend to rest.
To read all five parts, you have to pick up a Call & Post and read it. We are located at 11800 Shaker Blvd. Ask for all five editions
