Mr. Sylvester Joe Stephens

January 6, 1936 - February 1, 2022

Sylvester Joe Stephens was born in Columbus, Georgia January 6, 1936 to the parents of Sylvester and Martha Sipp Stephens. Joe started his work experience at the age of 11 years old as a Paperboy in Columbus, GA and worked there until graduating from Spencer High School in 1955. He married his high school sweetheart, Mary Catherine Cook Stephens “Cookie” February 14, 1956. They were married 53 years until her transition in 2009. Joe accepted the Lord at an early age from Twenty-Fourth Street Baptist Church, Columbus, GA. Joe joined the U.S. Army in 1956 and was stationed at Fort Bliss, El Paso, TX. After leaving the military he moved to Saginaw, Michigan in 1958. That same year he was employed with the City of Saginaw as a Police Patrolman. In 1962 he was transferred to the Juvenile Division as an Investigator, and later became the first School Liaison Officer. Later Joe and his wife Mary joined Zion Baptist Church under the leadership of Rev. Roosevelt Austin, Sr. He served as an ordained Deacon, Supt. Of Sunday School, Sunday School Teacher, member of the Male Chorus, Executive Board-Boy Scouts of America (Leader) and in many other capacities at the church from 1958 until he left Zion in 2010. In 1968 he left the Police Department and began employment at the First Ward Community Center, a Settlement House, as a Labor Counselor, under the tutelage of his mentor Ruben Daniels. He attended Bay City Junior College where he received his Associate Degree. He later attended evening classes at Michigan State University while working as a policeman to receive his BA in Criminal Justice in 1973. In 1969 he began employment at Central Foundry Division, General Motors Corporation as the Assistant Supervisor of Employment in the Personnel Department. His other jobs while at Central Foundry consisted of Supervisor of Employment, Supervisor of Personnel Administration, Supervisor of Employee Benefits, Supervisor of Labor Relations, E.E.O. Coordinator, Co-Administrator, Job Placement, UAW/GM Skills Development and Placement & Training Center. He retired from General Motors Corporation Powertrain Division in 1997. This is a direct quote he shared with his daughter Kim, “I don’t toot no horn, but the position I was in, I just happened to be the person that carried a lot of weight. The things that I did for people, somebody had made a sacrifice before me to get a job like that.” He served on the Saginaw City Council for 13 years, from 1986. He was appointed Mayor of Saginaw, Michigan serving as the 2nd African American Mayor from 1977 to 1979. He has a long record of services in the community which includes memberships in Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Lifetime Member NAACP, Frontiers International, Saginaw Chamber of Commerce for Disadvantage, American Legion, Captain of Fundraising Campaign of Business Planning Council-Saginaw County, City of Saginaw Planning Commission, Habitat for Humanity, Tri-County Advisory Committee, President-Christmas Store, Delta College Trustee (1971-1972), Saginaw City Council (1973-1986), , Michigan Municipal League-President (1984), O.I.C., Optimist Club, Saginaw Housing Commission, Manpower Planning Council Saginaw County, Substance Abuse Advisory Council Saginaw County, Co-Chairman of United Negro College Fund Drive, City of Saginaw Planning Commission and many other organizations. Joe was honored with numerous awards and accolades during his lifetime too many to mention. Joe was the previous owner of Gibraltar Security Agency and Pharoah’s Kitchen housed in Potter School. He was also in partnership with Carl and Thelma Poston, Dr. Lawrence Crawford, Steve Robinson and Pete Gaddis. Their goal was to create the first upscale homes on the East Side of Saginaw: Renview Estates was created! Joe and his “Cookie” loved to travel. Their love of family opened doors for their children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren to see other areas outside of Michigan. Playing Phase 10 or Uno with the family appeared to be hostile at times but laughter always followed. He was Joe the tool man. He loved to fix and build things. Joe had a love of trains and built a city for his train sets to be admired by his grandchildren. He loved golfing, old-school music and gospel music. Joe loved to take pictures and videos to pass the love of photography to his children. Joe leaves many, many memories to be cherished by his children, Pamela L. (Larry) Monroe, Saginaw, MI, Kimberly J. (Everett) Roberts, Flint, MI and Traci Y. Stephens, Saginaw; grandchildren, Charone (Joseph) Carter, Farmington Hills, MI, Tanisha Roberts, Charlotte, NC, Chalonda (Samuel) Parker, Murfreesboro, TN, Everett Roberts, Flint, MI, Jory (Mycal), Justice and Jordan Stephens, all of Saginaw; great-grandchildren, Paris and Autumn Parker, Murfreesboro, TN, Breanna Carter, Farmington Hills, MI, Jory Stephens, Jr., Jordan Stephens, Jr. and Jay’ Lani Torrez, all of Saginaw, MI and Nova Price, Grand Rapids; one sister, Doris L. Johnson, Saginaw; special cousin, Mary Henderson, Schenectady, NY; special nieces, Barbara (Donald) Anderson, Karen Anderson, Sherell (Emmanuel) Freeman; brothers and sisters in love, Johnnie Cook, Sr., Arlanza (Alma) Cook Sr., both of Columbus, GA and Rose Cook, Phenix City, AL; a host of nieces, nephews and cousins including Ralph, John and Al Hinton; Karen Lawrence-Webster who was his adopted daughter; a lifelong friend, Robert “Moe” Woods; special friends, Eddie and Juanita Foxx and Dr. Lawrence Crawford and John Pugh, other relatives and friends. Mr. Stephens was preceded in death by his parents, Sylvester and Martha Stephens devoted wife, his “Cookie” Mary C. Stephens; great-granddaughter, Kapri Stephens; sister, Mary E. Stephens; mother and father-in-love, Jackson and Beatrice Cook; special niece and nephew, Cynthia and Leagie Kindred; special aunt, Johnnie M. Hinton. The family would like to express special thanks to Compassus Hospice, Kayla, Melissa, Stephanie, LeAnn, Flo Hardin, Curtis Moore, New Christ Community Church, Terry Pruitt, Evans & Browne’s Funeral Home and Pastor Audrey Parker. Family hour will take place at 10:00 a.m. Saturday, February 12, 2022, from the Chapel of Evans & Browne's Funeral Home, 441 North Jefferson Avenue, Saginaw, Michigan 48607. Iota Chi Lambda Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. will conduct a memorial service at 10:45 a.m., with memorial service commencing at 11:30 a.m.. Interment will take place in Great Lakes National Cemetery, 4200 Belford Road, Holly, Michigan 48442. Due to Covid-19 please be mindful of no hugging or kissing.