Stephen Michael Sephus, Sr. 75, better known as 'Steve' was born on January 16, 1950 in McComb, Mississippi. He eventually made his home in Chicago, Illinois where he passed away at the Insights Hospital on November 18, 2025 sadly after suffering from recent debilitating health issues.
He is predeceased by his loving parents George Ciscero Sephus and Mildred Octavia Ellzey Sephus; his grandmother, Josie Moore of McComb; his brother, Louis Kenneth Ross of Chicago;
a sister, Yolanda Sephus Nix; brother Millard Ciscero Sephus of McComb, and sadly the recent passing of two other siblings, his youngest brother, Eldridge George Sephus and his sister, Marilyn Sue Sephus Ware, both of McComb.
Left behind are his two sons, Stephen Michael Sephus, Jr. and Stanley Milton Sephus of Slidell, Louisiana, and grandson, Stephen Michael Sephus lll,
of Atlanta, Georgia; as well as his only surviving sister, Jo Diane Sephus, of Newton, Massachusetts. Also his niece, Kekey Sephus of Mansfield, Texas, her two children and her mother Chantay Sephus Johnson of McComb; and nieces Nashlie Hollie Sephus Clark of Atlanta and Jackson, Mississippi and Whitney Hailey Sephus Wells of Senatobia, Mississippi along with their husbands, Jason Clark and Terrence Wells. Also, 2 nieces and 1 nephew in Atlanta, Georgia. He also leaves behind many friends and relatives in his hometown of McComb as well as in his adopted home of Chicago, especially a dear and supportive friend of 45 years, Linda Gilbert and her Mother, Dorothy as well as Linda's daughter, Nicole Ellis of Las Vegas.
As a young child, Steve, unfortunately contracted Polio and became one of the many faces of the Polio babies in the March of Dimes Campaign of the 1950s-he survived after many years of pain and disability that required wearing a brace and suffering the rigors of traveling back and forth to Vicksburg and Jackson with his Mother for treatments.
Steve attended the Booker T. Washington school system and briefly attended North Pike High School during the turbulent desegregation period of the mid-1960s. As one of the first Black students to enrolled, sadly after an unfortunate scuffle with another student, Steve returned to Booker T. Washington High School. After graduating from Southern University with a BS degree in Mathematics, he worked for the 3-M conglomerate in Minnesota. Later he worked for The Illinois Central Railway Company in Chicago in a professional capacity in settlements and claims and as a dispatcher.
During his years growing up in Mississippi, Steve was a vivacious, bright, popular and sociable young man. He excelled in many fields of endeavor. His beautiful smile and natural Southern charm brought joy and comfort to many.
He and his brothers enjoyed working alongside their Father on the farm where he became skillful at driving the tractor, plowing the fields with old Mike the Mule and tending to a motley array of farm animals. He also became quite a good cook and especially enjoyed baking custard pies, homemade biscuits and cooking rice and gravy.
There are often two sides to an individual. Sometimes we human beings can make choices leaving behind a complex legacy. Steve was certainly no exception. However, he touched the lives of many in such a delightful way and was truly loved and will be missed.
As of this time the family has not announced a memorial event.
He is predeceased by his loving parents George Ciscero Sephus and Mildred Octavia Ellzey Sephus; his grandmother, Josie Moore of McComb; his brother, Louis Kenneth Ross of Chicago;
a sister, Yolanda Sephus Nix; brother Millard Ciscero Sephus of McComb, and sadly the recent passing of two other siblings, his youngest brother, Eldridge George Sephus and his sister, Marilyn Sue Sephus Ware, both of McComb.
Left behind are his two sons, Stephen Michael Sephus, Jr. and Stanley Milton Sephus of Slidell, Louisiana, and grandson, Stephen Michael Sephus lll,
of Atlanta, Georgia; as well as his only surviving sister, Jo Diane Sephus, of Newton, Massachusetts. Also his niece, Kekey Sephus of Mansfield, Texas, her two children and her mother Chantay Sephus Johnson of McComb; and nieces Nashlie Hollie Sephus Clark of Atlanta and Jackson, Mississippi and Whitney Hailey Sephus Wells of Senatobia, Mississippi along with their husbands, Jason Clark and Terrence Wells. Also, 2 nieces and 1 nephew in Atlanta, Georgia. He also leaves behind many friends and relatives in his hometown of McComb as well as in his adopted home of Chicago, especially a dear and supportive friend of 45 years, Linda Gilbert and her Mother, Dorothy as well as Linda's daughter, Nicole Ellis of Las Vegas.
As a young child, Steve, unfortunately contracted Polio and became one of the many faces of the Polio babies in the March of Dimes Campaign of the 1950s-he survived after many years of pain and disability that required wearing a brace and suffering the rigors of traveling back and forth to Vicksburg and Jackson with his Mother for treatments.
Steve attended the Booker T. Washington school system and briefly attended North Pike High School during the turbulent desegregation period of the mid-1960s. As one of the first Black students to enrolled, sadly after an unfortunate scuffle with another student, Steve returned to Booker T. Washington High School. After graduating from Southern University with a BS degree in Mathematics, he worked for the 3-M conglomerate in Minnesota. Later he worked for The Illinois Central Railway Company in Chicago in a professional capacity in settlements and claims and as a dispatcher.
During his years growing up in Mississippi, Steve was a vivacious, bright, popular and sociable young man. He excelled in many fields of endeavor. His beautiful smile and natural Southern charm brought joy and comfort to many.
He and his brothers enjoyed working alongside their Father on the farm where he became skillful at driving the tractor, plowing the fields with old Mike the Mule and tending to a motley array of farm animals. He also became quite a good cook and especially enjoyed baking custard pies, homemade biscuits and cooking rice and gravy.
There are often two sides to an individual. Sometimes we human beings can make choices leaving behind a complex legacy. Steve was certainly no exception. However, he touched the lives of many in such a delightful way and was truly loved and will be missed.
As of this time the family has not announced a memorial event.
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