Ginny Marsh joined Stevens Realty within a couple months of Debbie opening the business. Marsh is still working alongside Stevens, which she stated, “She has been very loyal.”
By Heather Clower
The Parsons Advocate
Debbie Stevens has been an entrepreneur for the majority of her adult life. In 1984, she opened a doughnut and bakery shop that unfortunately was lost in the ‘85 flood just four days before marking her first anniversary. In August of 1993, she obtained her real estate license and began working for Advance Realty in Elkins, and Cardinal Real Estate in Philippi.
In September of 1995, Stevens opened her own real estate company, Stevens Realty. In the beginning, she lacked the required sales needed in the industrial and commercial side of the business to obtain her broker license, which is when former co-worker Shirley Robinson agreed to join the new endeavor from 1995 to 2006. Upon Robinson’s retirement, Stevens took the broker test to fulfill the void.
The original location of the real estate office was in a small area on the first floor of the former Knicely building on Second St., in Parsons. She recalled her first office locations and how her surroundings have changed, saying, “I had humble beginnings.” In 1996, the Department of Motor Vehicle services were added. “I’ve had a lot of good customers,” claimed Stevens. In 1997, a Belington, W.Va. office location was opened, though closed during the housing crisis of 2009.
In 2003, she moved into the former Mountain Valley Bank building, where she is currently housed, later purchasing it in 2006. The “Rustic Rentals” side of the business began in 2003 and the gift shop opened in 2011. Stevens also serves as the Broker for Black Bear Resort and Land of Canaan. “The Lord has certainly blessed me well with health especially and a good relationship with the people of Tucker County and some surrounding areas,” Stevens stated.
In November of 1995, just a couple of months after opening, Ginny Marsh joined the Stevens Realty team and is still with the company. “She has been very loyal,” Stevens said. Fast forward to 1999, Phyllis Carr began her career with the realty group and is also still a vital spoke of the wheel. After retiring from the Court House, Diane Wade came to Stevens Realty and worked from 2009 until 2019 when she retired once more. Stevens said she has had a few other employees over the years as well, including Anne Bartlett who is working as a part-time real estate assistant.
When asked how she became interested in the real estate business, she stated, “My uncle and his wife owned a franchise real estate company in the seventies in Ohio, and I would visit there and I was always intrigued by how that worked.” “That planted the seed,” Stevens added.
“Someday it has to come to an end, I’m not young anymore, but I don’t know when that will be,” Stevens said. “Each and every customer that’s come through the door here, no matter what they were here for, to buy or sell a home, to license a vehicle, to buy a gift, or to have a vacation rental experience, every one of them has been very much appreciated and they have made this business what it is today because of their loyalty, and from the bottom of my heart I want to say thank you to them.”
Stevens’ Realty, Stevens’ License and Title Service and Gift to Go are open daily at 201 First, in Parsons. You may reach them at 304-478-4161.
