John Steven "Steve" Warren

1950 - 2013

John Steven "Steve" Warren

Greenville

John Steven "Steve" Warren, 63, died on Sunday, September 22, 2013, after a long and courageous battle with glioblastoma. Steve is survived by his wife of 42 years, Geri Zimmerman Warren; his younger son, David Warren; and his older son John Warren and wife Courtney. He also is survived by his older brother Chris Warren of Chattanooga, TN.

Steve was born on July 15, 1950, in Rome, GA to Harry Cove Warren and Mary Walden Warren. He grew up in Rome, GA, where he had a passion for football, and won a state championship for the West Rome Chieftans. He accepted an athletic scholarship to play football at Furman University. While at Furman, he met his future wife Geri in freshman history class. Steve was a member of the Kappa Alpha fraternity and graduated cum laude in Business Administration in 1972. Steve went on to graduate from University of South Carolina School of Law, where he was a member of the Order of the Wig and Robe.

Steve Warren practiced in the field of labor and employment law representing strictly management of national and international companies for over 35 years. He began his career with Thompson Ogletree Deakins, before opening and building Jackson Lewis LLP's Greenville office. While at Jackson Lewis he was managing partner of the Greenville office for 25 years and a general partner within the firm. In 2008, Steve became a partner with Constangy Brooks and Smith LLP, where he worked until his death. He had a passion for practicing law and was an expert in counseling both union-free and unionized employers with regard to developing and maintaining an issue-free workplace. Additionally, he advised clients with regard to union elections and unfair labor practice charges, negotiated numerous collective bargaining agreements, and handled countless arbitrations over the course of his career. He most enjoyed conducting his seminar entitled, "Staying Union-free in the Workplace," to company executives and HR managers.

Steve was a devoted family man and loved spending time boating and hiking with his family at his lake house. He was a strong supporter of Furman University and was an ardent Furman football fan. Steve was a member of First Presbyterian Church and the Prime Time Sunday School Class.

During Steve's battle with glioblastoma, he and his son David developed and launched Take The Fight, a national nonprofit which trains America's best college students and pairs them 1-on-1 with cancer patients to help them fight smarter.

Memorials may be made to Take the Fight at PO Box 2012, Winston Salem, NC 27120 or the Salvation Army at 417 Rutherford St., Greenville, SC 29609.

Visitation will be held in the parlor at First Presbyterian Church in Greenville on Wednesday, September 25, 2013, at 12:30 p.m. The memorial service will follow in the main sanctuary at 2:30 p.m.

The Mackey Mortuary, Century Drive. Online registry available at www.mackeymortuary.com