Dr. Stephen Earl Duke

Dr. Stephen Earl Duke, age 73, of Leesburg, Florida passed away at University of Florida Hospital on December 9th, 2025.

Mr. Duke was born in Griffin, Georgia on July 8th, 1952. His parents were John Earl Duke and Betty Miller Duke.

He is survived, by his wife of 42 years, Pamela Ison Duke. His sons, Matthew Duke (Christy) of Greenville, North Carolina, and their children Chloe, Emma, and Luke; Michael Duke of Grimesland, North Carolina, and his sons Zach and Braden; Joshua Duke (Saralyn) of Orange County, California, and their children Andrew and Audrey; and Ryan Duke (Carla) of Louisville, Kentucky, and their children Sloan and Sonny. His nieces and nephews were a source of great pride and joy, and he adored each one: Julie Beckham; Stephanie and James Haynes; James and Lauren McClure; Emily and Tyler Laughlin; Evan Ison; and Emma Ison.

He was preceded in death by his parents, sister Linda Disch, and daughter-in-law Brandy Duke.

Dr. Duke, a beloved pastor, teacher, husband, father and grandfather passed away leaving a legacy of faith in Christ, and a gracious demeanor of selflessness, kindness, and calmness. Whatever challenges came his way, he never changed who he was, nor the path he traveled. He loved every single person he met because he wanted them to see God's love on earth and he was willing to be the vessel to share it.

Steve felt a clear calling to the ministry at the age of 16, and by 17, he had preached his first sermon. After graduating from Griffin High School in 1970, he pursued his passion for ministry at Southeastern University. During the summers, he served as a staff member with Teen Challenge in Atlanta, spending his summers working closely with individuals struggling with addiction. These experiences left a deep impression on him and strengthened his desire to serve others through ministry.

In 1972, Steve embarked on his first missions trip to the Bahamas, returning the following year for a two-month internship to continue his work there. He graduated from Bible College in 1974 with a Bachelor of Arts degree, serving as Missions Board President and honored as Mr. Southeastern. That same year, he traveled to Brussels, Belgium, for a six-week mission trip.

Steve completed his Master of Divinity in 1976, and just a year later, at 25, he became a Bible professor at Southeastern Bible College. By 1981, he returned to his studies to complete his final master's degree and doctorate. In 1982, he earned his S.T.M. (Master of Sacred Theology) and studies continued with completion of a Th.D. (Doctorate of Theology) from Concordia Seminary in St. Louis, Missouri.

He was thrilled when asked to present his dissertation, "An Exegetical Examination of the Pauline Corpus", at multiple universities, and later honored by inclusion in the Billy Graham Archive Library in 1984.

That same year, Steve and his family moved to New York, where he served as Care Pastor at Love Christian Assembly and later as Senior Pastor of Word of Jesus Worship Center in Central Long Island. He believed deeply in the power of the local church to transform lives and communities through the work of the Lord. Missions remained central to his heart, and from 1989 to 1991, he led numerous short-term mission trips with church members to Honduras, Haiti, Guyana, and an extended stay in Russia. He often spoke of the Russian people's hunger for the Word, remembering how they stood for entire services, a memory that left a lasting impression on him.

During these years, Steve also developed coursework for various colleges and taught Intensive Biblical Studies across the United States and Canada. His specialty was biblical languages, and his expertise in Biblical Greek and Hebrew was documented at Concordia Seminary.

In 1995, Steve accepted the role of Academic Dean in Columbus, Georgia.By 1998, His desire for the local church led him to return as full-time pastor at Courts of Praise in LaGrange, Georgia, where he served until 2008. Later, he moved to Leesburg, Florida, to become Executive Pastor at The Father's House. Even after suffering a stroke in 2014, Steve continued to travel and teach throughout the Southeast until health complications made travel impossible. He remained active in pastoral family counseling until his retirement in 2022 at the age of 70.

Steve generously donated his entire ministry library-including his writings, teachings, sermon notes, and thousands of books-to a ministry school in the Philippines, where it continues to serve pastors, students, and leaders throughout Southeast Asia to this day.

Throughout these events and timeline highlights was a man who was devoted to his family. He built tree houses, spent hours at sports events, played endless board games, enjoyed Friday night campouts in the living room, participated in Nerf gun challenges, and cherished annual camping vacations in Ithaca, New York, and later Helen, Georgia. He was as hands-on with his family as he was with his faith. He loved cars, NASCAR, the Kansas City Chiefs, the Georgia Bulldogs, and Sunday dinners shared with friends and family around the table.

He prayed faithfully on his knees every morning of his life until the stroke made it impossible. Afterward, he could be found in his favorite chair, with pictures of his sons taped inside his Bible. As his sons married, those pictures turned into pictures of their families, and he continued to pray for each one faithfully, every day of his life.

With all his achievements and accomplishments, Steve simply wanted to be known as a "Southern gentleman, husband, and father, with a strong faith who loved people to the Lord."

Visitation with the family will be on Saturday, December 20, 2025, from 11:30 am until 1:00 pm at Conner-Westbury Funeral Home, followed by a service in the chapel. Interment will be at the Rehoboth Baptist Church of Orchard Hill in the Duke Family plot.