Stephen Raver

Stephen Woodrow Raver, 80, of Canton, GA, passed away peacefully on the morning of December 23, 2025. A native of Westminster, MD, Stephen was a graduate of Westminster High School, Class of 1963, where he was named "Best Dancer" of the senior class. He would go on to attend Salem College in Salem, West Virginia, earning a Bachelor of Science with Honors in Accounting in 1968. Upon graduation, Stephen took up a career with the National Credit Union Administration (NCUA) as a certified public accountant, quickly elevating to the position of Regional Director in multiple major cities, finally settling in Atlanta, GA. Steve eventually elected to "retire" early and pursue new endeavors in the mid-1980's. In this rebirth, Steve found a new purpose and passion in the entertainment industry as a ticket broker. In the 1990's, his business acumen would propel a company started on his kitchen table to prominence, becoming one of the leading ticket brokers in the metro Atlanta area and founding Peachtree Tickets, Inc. At his core, Steve was a lover of all things live music, sport, and theatre - he found tremendous joy in sharing those experiences and memories with his family, friends, and customers throughout the years. Building upon his success, Stephen successfully lobbied the Georgia General Assembly to introduce a bill that would permit and better regulate the resale of sport and entertainment tickets within the state, which he would see Governor Roy Barnes sign into law in 2001. Stephen went on to be a leading national voice on best practices in the ticket resale industry, and was a founding member of the National Association of Ticket Brokers (NATB), and served on their board of directors until his retirement in the mid-2010's. Always a fighter, Stephen fought and beat bladder cancer in 2015 and remained in remission for 10 years until his death. Amongst other things, Steve loved the Atlanta Braves, the South Carolina Gamecocks, seafood, fine wine, great music, his Hilton Head Island beach home, and his family. Stephen is survived by his wife Susan K. Raver, his son Christian T. Raver of Huntersville, NC, and brother Timothy T. Raver of Selbyville, DE, nieces Martha S. Raver of Frederick, MD and Kearny L. Raver of Annapolis, MD. He was preceded in death by his parents Woodrow Taylor Raver and Ethel Louise Wilson Raver of Westminster, MD, and his sister A. Lynne Raver of Westminster, MD. Visitation will be from 10 – 11 a.m. on Thursday, January 15, 2026 at Fletcher Funeral & Cremation Services, 254 East Main Street, Westminster, MD 21157. Funeral service will begin at 11 a.m. Interment will follow at Emory United Methodist Church Cemetery.