Jason J. "Junior" Astephen

Jason (Junior) Joseph Astephen passed away due to an aggressive cancer on May 19, 2023 in Charlotte, North Carolina. Born in Massachusetts on September 8, 1977, Junior was one of seven siblings. He spent some of his childhood in Gray, Maine, and then graduated high school from Eagle Valley High School in Colorado. In his twenties, Junior spent several years in Vail, Colorado, before moving to Charlotte, North Carolina, where he pursued a long career in hospitality and bar management.
In April 2014, his son, Hudson Cash Astephen was born, which was the proudest moment of his life. Junior loved Hudson more than anything in life. He was overjoyed to become a father and to be able to teach and reflect with Hudson all the lessons between father and son (especially a shared love for baseball). Later, Junior left hospitality to raise his son and pursue other career interests. He had mastered adaptation especially throughout the health issues that ensued in his forties. In 2020, he reconnected with his childhood crush, Annie, who he called his "Winnie Cooper". Together they had made plans on spending their lives together.
Junior impacted countless lives among many walks of life. Junior loved coaching little league baseball with Hudson, Hudson's teammates, and his fellow coaches; cooking for his family and many friends; spending years snowboarding out west when he was younger; and then to today, helping people get on their feet after fighting addiction.
He was cherished by his son, partner, family, and friends, as he loved engaging with people and was an inspiration to us all. He was such a sensitive, witty, and caring father, brother, partner, son, and friend and will be so very missed.
Junior is predeceased by his mother, Kathleen Larnis. He is survived by his son, Hudson Astephen, of Charlotte; life partner, Annie Messinger, of Charlotte; brother, Steve Astephen, of San Diego, California; brother, Rob Astephen, of San Diego, California; sister, Mary kay Mackneer, of Beaver, Pennsylvania; brother, Danny Astephen, of North Conway, New Hampshire; half-sister, Alisha Almeida, of California; half-brother, Christopher Astephen, of Franklin, Massachusetts; his father and his father's wife, Frank and Nancy Astephen, of Mendon, Massachusetts; and numerous in-laws, aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces and nephews.
A memorial service will be held on Saturday, June 24, 2023, at 11:00 a.m. at Pritchard at South End Church, 1117 South Boulevard, Charlotte, with a reception to follow from 1:00-4:00 p.m. at Great Wagon Road Distillery, 610 Anderson Street, Charlotte. In lieu of flowers, the Jason Astephen Trust Fund is being arranged with all contributions to benefit Hudson Astephen. Details will be released soon, or please contact Annie with questions.