Our father, our dad, also known as Jerry, Steve, officially named Jerome Eugene, lived a full life with his dear wife, Mary Evelyn Stephens, affectionately known as Mae or Schatze. Our father is 86 - born in August 1935 in Atlantic City, New Jersey. It's interesting to know that my father counts his years of life beginning from the womb, which makes him 87. My father and mother were high school sweethearts and have maintained an impressive loving relationship for 66 years. Jerome served more than two decades in the United States Air Force and retired in 1974. While serving in the military, he had a number of interesting and challenging duty stations - Newfoundland; Kittery & Presque Isle, Maine; Plattsburgh, New York; Rantoul, Illinois; Seoul, South Korea; Merced, California; Biloxi, Mississippi; Bad Nauheim, Germany; Cape Charles, Virginia. I mention these duty stations because of the flavor they added to our lives as a family and because of the life long friends my parents acquired along the way. Some of those friends include: Alvin & Barbara Bowman, Leon & Betty Ward, Charles Hodge, among others.

Upon retirement, my father and mother decided to move their small family across the Chesapeake Bay from his last duty station on the Eastern Shore of Virginia to Virginia Beach, Virginia. He continued toward his goal of completing his Bachelors degree and graduated magna cum laude from Old Dominion University in May 1977. Upon graduation, he returned to work as a probation officer for the city of Norfolk. Later, he switched careers to personnel development as a civil servant at the Norfolk Naval Shipyard until his next retirement in 1995. My father wasn't done yet, he went to work for his son-in-law doing janitorial work at a Virginia Beach staple - The Heritage Store. At that time, it was located on the corner of Pacific and Laskin Road. Jerome became a beloved fixture at the Heritage Store for over a decade. He thoroughly enjoyed working within walking distance to the Atlantic Ocean——often taking walks along the boardwalk, alone, with his wife, and sometimes accompanied by the family chihuahua—Princess MiMi in her dog carriage because she refused to walk.

Our immediate family is small. Our parents have two children — Jeri Lynn, the oldest, and the second child - Pamela Joy. Jeri Lynn married Jeffrey Lewis Brown and they have two girls - Geri the oldest daughter; the youngest daughter - Beth Paige Brown, affectionately known as Dr. Brown and BP. Geri married Michael Michel and they have 3 kids - Ariel Michel, Alannah Michel, and Michael Michel; Pamela Joy married Richard Jarnagin, which produced one daughter Kenice Onasis Leandra. Kenice married Christopher Johnson and they have 4 kids - Amaya, CJ, Jaxson and Jordan. Steven Brooks became a part of our family as a beloved godson and occasional traveling companion of my parents. My father's adopted sons include: Charles & Michelle Redmond, Monita Mason and Gene Mason- deceased.

Arising from the two daughters, our parents now have 3 grandchildren and 7 great grandchildren. Our parents receive great joy from their grandchildren, great grandchildren, their godson, extended family, and life long friends. In my father's family he had 2 sisters - Eva Garrison -deceased (husband Leon Garrison) & Laura Williams (husband- Atkins Williams Jr., deceased) and 2 brothers - Eddie Stephens & Harry Stephens. Both of my father's parents -Jerome & Virginia Stephens Sr., are now deceased, but were what we affectionately refer to as "long livers" because they lived into their 90's and 100's. There are quite a few nieces, nephews and cousins that my mother and father love dearly; however, there are too many to mention fondly in this obituary.

Our father, Jerome, enjoyed life and wanted to live as long as possible. We are grateful for the 80 plus years we've had together. Our sincere thanks goes out to all who prayed for our father and family and for all the kindness, food, and visits. Our father will be cremated by P.G. Thomasson Funeral Services, 230 North Lynnhaven Road, Virginia Beach, VA 23452