Selma Mae (Schoenbrodt) Stone, 88, passed away on March 31, 2026, of complications related to scoliosis. She was born in Baton Rouge, LA to the late Louis Stirling Schoenbrodt and Bertha Prewitt Schoenbrodt. Her husband of 53 years, John Bowen Stone III, also predeceased her.
Selma was diagnosed with scoliosis when she was a teenager, but that did stop her from enjoying an active and busy life. After graduation from St. Joseph’s Academy in Baton Rouge, LA, where she grew up, she entered LSU and earned a BS degree in Nursing as part of the first class to complete LSU’s BSN program. Working at Ochsner Foundation Hospital in New Orleans, she was introduced to oncology nursing. Her nursing career was put on hold after 1 year due to John’s job moves which saw the family moving every 1-2 years up and down the East coast from Louisiana to Virginia and the birth of her 4 children. She enjoyed being a stay-at-home Mom until her youngest was in middle school. After settling in Virginia Beach, she took a refresher course and returned to her love of oncology nursing. She was the second nurse in Hampton Roads to achieve certification in oncology, and one of the founding members of the Southeastern Virginia Oncology Nursing Society (SEVONS).
Selma loved gardening, cooking, sewing, cross stitching, raising her children and grandchildren, her church, and oncology nursing,. She was a “plank” (founding) member of Church of the Ascension Catholic Church. She was active in religious education, sacramental participation, baking, and fund raising. She enjoyed traveling with her husband to China and many European countries including England and Ireland, and taking Caribbean cruises. Domestic travel included Alaska and Hawaii. She especially enjoyed the inter-generational trips with her granddaughter Savannah to Prince Edward Island, Canada, Mt. Rushmore, and Venice, Italy.
Selma is survived by her daughter Stephanie Stone and her husband Mitchell Homma of Encinitas, CA, and her three sons J. Bowen Stone IV and his wife Shelley of Wilmington, DE, and his daughters Adaire (NYC) and Abigail (Washington DC), Francis R. Stone and his children Savannah and Stirling of Virginia Beach, VA, and Raymond L. Stone of Virginia Beach, VA. In addition, her brother Charles Schoenbrodt and his wife Deanne Collins of Spring Hill, TN, and her nieces Hope Schoenbrodt of Phoenix, AZ, and Christa Schoenbrodt of Nashville, TN, survive her, while her nephew Blake Schoenbrodt of TN predeceased her.
After her husband passed, she moved to Atlantic Shores in Virginia Beach, enjoying the activities and outings. During her last years, she was cared for by many devoted caregivers. The family wishes to express thanks and appreciation to these special ladies.
Details on funeral mass and celebration of life will be provided in mid-April. Please post your fondest condolences to the family at the Cremation Society of Virginia website.