Our brother, Mr. Jonathan Earl Stephens, Feb. 24, 1969, to Sept. 7, 2022, lived a full and gracious life. Jon loved his family fiercely. Every moment with Jon was simply just sheer joy.
Being special needs never stood in his way. He was a ray of sunshine on a cloudy day. He greeted you with open arms and always, always had love in his heart. If you knew him, be assured his love for each and every one of you was pure and endless.
Unique doesn’t even begin to describe his personality! Jon loved Elvis Presley and with most certainty he is tipping a Pepsi and gyrating to the beat. He was a WWE aficionado and loved to watch Westerns. He enjoyed reading and rewriting magazines in a journal. He was an amazing, gentle soul.
For many years, Jon worked at a bakery through Region 10 Services and the family would like to thank them for the years of support, as well as Linda and Jerry, his special caretakers.
He was quite the man with his lunchbox and Redskins cap as he boarded the bus to go to work.
Life for Jon was never the same after his special nephew, Daniel Stephens, preceded him in death. He loved his mother, Gladys Genevieve Stephens, immensely and has now been reunited with them.
Jon is survived by his father, Jennings Bryan Stephens; a maternal aunt, Mavis Morris; his brothers, Jennings Bryan Stephens III and wife, Elaine, and Joseph Michael Stephens and wife, Beth; his sisters, Sandra Lynne Morris and the late Roman “Junior” and Debra Carol Turner; a special cousin, Shirley Fortune, and husband, Mike; and a host of nieces and nephews. Jon took great pleasure in the little people in his family.
If it suits you, have some KFC, tip a Pepsi, or play some Elvis really loud. If you would like to donate in his memory, please donate to the National Downs Syndrome Society. Jon was a pioneer and lived 40 years longer than projected. Still, it wasn’t enough time. We will miss you, Jonathan.
A celebration of his life was held Saturday, Sept. 10, 2022, at 2 p.m., at Hill and Wood Funeral Home, Charlottesville, Va.
