Obituary

Stella Sweeney Arberson
(January 14, 1918 - August 25, 2009)

On January 14, 1918 in the city of Herminie, Pennsylvania, the chimes of time rang out the news that Stella Sweeney was born. She was the second child born to the late Clarence and Bertha Moore Sweeney. At a very young age she moved with her family to Huntington, West Virginia, where she received her early education in the public schools of Cabell County. While in Huntington she joined the Calvary Baptist Church, Later she moved with her family to Cullen, Virginia where she graduated from High School. Stella also was a graduate of St. Paul's College, Lawrenceville, Virginia. Following graduation she briefly taught school in Virginia. Returning to Huntington she reunited with the Calvary Baptist Church where she remained a faithful member until her home going. She was awarded a Legislative Citation from the State of West Virginia for her seventy plus years as a member of Calvary. During her years at Calvary she held the following positions: Church Secretary, Financial Secretary, Auditor, Sunday School Teacher, Mission Visitation, an Usher since 1944, Supervisor of the Junior Ushers, Church Announcer, Reporter for the Calvary Star 1979, Program Chair-Person of Women's Day, Ushers Fellowship, Church Anniversaries, Mission Tea, The Style Show, Fund Raisers, a member of the Choir, a participant in the Artist Guild plays, a participant in the Prison Ministry in West Virginia and Kentucky and a Church Historian. In 1945 she united in marriage with the late Joseph Arberson. Sister Arberson was a very enterprising young woman selling wigs in her own business. In addition to her church work she was very civic minded. She was a Life Member of the NAACP, Past Chief Lady Bison, Loyal Order of Bison's #1, Past Daughter Ruler and Honorary Past State President both of the I.B.P.O. Elks of the World, and a member of the Women's League of Huntington. On Tuesday, August 25, 2009 the chimes of time rang out again, announcing that Stella Moore Sweeney Arberson was called from labor to reward, to join her parents Clarence and Berth Sweeney, her husband Joseph Arberson, sisters, Clara Jackson and Dorothy Housen, daughter Hortense Smith who preceded her in death. For 91 years, 7 months and 21 days the world was made a much better place, because it was touched by Stella Moore Sweeney Arberson. Our lose is Heaven's gain. She leaves to continue her legacy of love, a son Samuel Buckner of Decatur, Alabama, a daughter, Peggy Jo Castleman of Columbus, Ohio, nieces, Bertha (William) Sloan of Herndon, Virginia and Dona Anderson of Raleigh, North Carolina, great nieces and nephews and a host of other relatives and friends. A Celebartion of her life will 1:00Pm Saturday, August 29, 2009 at the Calavary Missionary Baptist Church, 915 Eighth Avenue, Huntington, West Virginia with Rev. Dr. Franklin Murphy, Sr. officiating. Burial will follow in Woodmere Memorial Park. Friends may call from 11:00Am until the time of the services at the church.