Tonya Ellen Stephens, 56 of Huntington, passed away peacefully on Sunday, March 29, 2026 with her family by her side. She was born November 24, 1969 in Huntington to Louis and Violet (Spurlock) Stephens.

Tonya graduated from Huntington East High School and worked for the Herald Dispatch for 26 years. Since then, she had worked at Marshall Orthopaedics and considered her coworkers like family. Tonya was also a member of Fellowship Baptist Church in Barboursville.

She will always be remembered for her big smile and her heart of gold. Even through her battle with cancer and the suffering she experienced, she was an inspiration to all who knew her. Tonya trusted the Lord as her savior at a very young age and continued to lean on Him through her cancer journey, and is now completely healed and rejoicing with Him in heaven. A special thank you to all of the staff at Edwards Comprehensive Cancer Center and Hospice of Huntington for taking such wonderful care of her.

She was preceded in death by her maternal and paternal grandparents and several aunts and uncles. Tonya is survived by her loving parents, Louis and Violet Stephens of Huntington; her best friend and sister, Anita (Jeff) Kay of Huntington; uncle, Larry Spurlock; aunt, Shirley Ball, and numerous cousins.

A Funeral Service will be at 1:00 p.m. on Friday, April 3, 2026 at Beard Mortuary with Interment to follow in Ridgelawn Memorial Park. Visitation and greeting of friends will be held before the services, from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Memorial contributions are suggested to Edwards Comprehensive Cancer Center or Hospice of Huntington. Please leave an online condolence for her family on her guestbook.