Released by Southerland Funeral Home …
Kamella Kyle Stebbins went to be with the Lord on Monday, April 15, 2019. She was born on May 18, 1961 in Panama City, Florida.
Kamella loved the Northwest Florida area. She spent her entire life in Bay County and surrounding areas of Panama City, FL. She graduated from Mosley High School in 1979, and then attended Gulf Coast Community College. She excelled in all sports but had a special love for tennis and softball. In junior high and high school, she played every sport available to women. In addition, she was a member of the Mosley Concert Choir. In college she played for the first women’s softball team for Gulf Coast Community College and was one of their star players. She went to play for several women’s softball teams after college. Among them were Moulder & Sons and HG Harders but the bulk of her career was spent playing with the Hilton women’s traveling softball team. She played for many years, well into her late 40’s and made many close friends. She was a power hitter the other teams certainly respected when she came to the plate.
Kamella also loved the outdoors. She and her husband enjoyed a cabin on the Chipola River near Wewahitchka, where she had numerous close friends. She would spend several weeks at a time on the river fishing, boating, hunting, and generally relaxing and fully enjoying life. She spent the majority of her time helping friends in their gardens, canning vegetables while enjoying her friend’s company.
Kamella worked in sales her entire career and excelled in all areas; from food & spirits to fine jewelry and department stores, she loved helping people. After her marriage to Jeff, she started working at the Main Deck on the Navy Base. She worked there for about 9 years where she made many lifelong friends before she was slightly disabled by an accident. Afterwards, she was a housewife, mother, grandmother, and friend.
Kamella married Charles Jeffery Stebbins on September 12, 1999. They spent many happy years together and were looking forward to celebrating their 20th anniversary this year. He was her best friend, her caretaker, her provider and her favorite person to be around. He was also the most amazing stepfather which made their love grow even stronger. She was also his best friend and lifelong companion along with the many animals they rescued over the years. Her favorite companion for the past 16 years was Kodiak, who passed away 2 weeks before Kamella did.
Kamella is survived by her mother, Crystal Kelly, her adopted father, Tom Kelly, her loving husband, Jeff Stebbins, her daughter Crystal Rose Bortl, and mother of her grandkids (she was known as “Granny”) Annabelle Rose and Liam Reign Bortl. She is also survived by her sister Karma Kuttner and Karma’s children (she was known as “Auntie”) Bruce Kelly and Jessica Singleton, and Pierson, Jessica’s son. She is also survived by her half-brother Joey Priest and her half-sister Cindy Kelly Parris. Her natural father, Jim Priest, precedes her in death. The family spent many holidays and festive occasions together and Kamella will be sorely missed at these. She was the life of the party, the most vivacious, and full of laughter.
A Celebration of Kamella’s life will be held at 3:00 p.m., Monday, April 22, 2019 at Southerland Event Center, 1112 Ohio Ave. in Lynn Haven. The family will begin receiving friends at 2:00 pm prior to the service. Interment will follow in Greenwood Cemetery, located at 17th and Lisenby Ave. in Panama City.