Jeffrey Lynn Stephens, 80, passed away peacefully and surrounded by his children on August 1st, 2026, at Springmoor Retirement Community in Raleigh, NC. Born on January 27th, 1946, Jeff was raised in Ruston, Louisiana, with his two siblings on the family farm. He spent his childhood fishing, catching crawfish, picking vegetables in the garden, and playing football. Jeff graduated from Louisiana Tech before joining the Army, where he was stationed in New Orleans and then New York City. In NYC, he met and married Barbara Wanner before relocating to Raleigh, NC, and having two children. In Raleigh, Jeff worked for Becton Dickenson, studied for his Master’s degree in Accounting at NC State, and then joined Goodmark Foods, where he spent most of his career working in Finance and as a Controller.

Jeff was known as a loving father, grandfather, and friend who enjoyed serving in church roles at Restoration and Newpath Churches, attending Tarheel baseball games, doing East Coast Swing at the Elks Club, swimming laps at Seven Oaks, and running community gardens to grow food for the Food Bank of Central and Eastern NC.

He was endlessly proud of his children, Christine and Kevin, and of the good each of them has brought into the world. He loved his four grandchildren, Kai, Sage, Caroline, and Cortland immensely and took quiet delight in watching each of them grow into their own person, with their own strengths and their own way of seeing the world. Jeff's church family meant just as much to him. Through several changes in the congregation over the years, his commitment never wavered, and he found real purpose in the many ways he served.

He was preceded in death by his mother, Emma; his father, Norman; and his sister, Norma Jean. He is survived by his brother, Gerald; his children, Christine and Kevin; and his four grandchildren, Kai, Sage, Caroline, and Cortland.

A Graveside Service for family and dear friends will be held at Bluestem Conservation Cemetery, an 87-acre nature preserve, on Wednesday, August 5th. For those who would like to honor Jeff’s memory, please consider a donation in lieu of flowers to either the Food Bank of Central and Eastern North Carolina or the Raleigh Dream Center.