Stephen "Stevie" Keith Levy

Stephen Keith “Stevie Showboat“ Levy, 67, of Newport, North Carolina, went into the loving arms of our Savior Jesus Christ on Sunday, November 23, 2025, at The Carteret House.

A funeral service to honor Stevie’s life will be held at 11:00 a.m., Tuesday December 2, 2025, at Parkview Baptist Church which will be officiated by Reverend John Carswell. Interment will follow at Gethsemane Memorial Park. The family will receive friends one hour prior to this service at the church. For those unable to attend, the service can be viewed through his obituary page on the Munden Funeral Home website. A Celebration of Life will be held from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. that afternoon at Memories Beach Club.

Stevie was born on October 20, 1958, in Durham, North Carolina to the late Sydney Levy and Mary Francis Lee Levy. In addition to his parents, Stevie was preceded in death by his sister, Pamela Villazante of Las Vegas, Nevada. Stevie attended Hillandale Elementary School, Carrington Middle School, and graduated from Northern High School.

Those surviving include his cousins, Stella Adams Wilson, Paige Adams Seymore, Don Adams, Michael Lee Dean and his wife Karen, and Robert Dean and his wife Teresa. After the passing of Stevie’s parents, Michael, who always loved Stevie as a brother, stepped into the primary role to guide and love Stevie. Michael’s wife Karen Hudson Dean realized that when she married Michael that this union included Stevie, and she sincerely loved and supported Stevie also.

As a child, his parents brought Stevie to their summer home on Atlantic Beach each year where he enjoyed his favorite hobbies and where he was introduced to “Beach Music.” His love for this music and dance culture of both North Carolina and South Carolina coasts made him a mainstay at “Beach Music” clubs and concerts where he would perform by singing and dancing to the delight of people from near and far. A song “The Stevie Levy Shuffle” was written by General Norman Johnson of The Chairmen of the Board and Sammy O’Banion about Stevie and this song came to be a classic on Beach Music radio and played by DJ’s in the Beach Music Clubs when Stevie and dancers would fill the floor to their delight.

Stevie committed selflessly to his community in Carteret County and other areas of North Carolina and South Carolina by providing transportation for the residents and summer tourists to restaurants, clubs, church events, and even parents who relied upon him to provide safe transportation for their family members while even sometimes providing family visits to an ice cream parlor. All people enjoyed singing The Stevie Levy Shuffle song while riding with Stevie and enjoying the colorful lights flashing to the music. Many parents of teenage and college kids were personally waiting to pay Stevie as he brought their children home safe.

Stevie was presented with numerous Certificates of Recognition from the State of North Carolina. He also received a Certificate of Recognition by the State of South Carolina on his induction as Honorary Member into the South Carolina R&B/Beach Music Hall of Fame. A letter with the State Seal was received from the Office of the Governor Jim Hodges of South Carolina congratulating Stevie on this recognition. The Cammy Awards for his dedication officially named Stevie Levy “The Nation’s Number 1 Beach Music Fan.” Stevie was awarded by The Heritage Bank and Hayes Jewelers a Service Award presented to “an individual that gives support to the Beach Music Community” in 2007. Stevie was inducted into the Atlantic Beach Shaggers Hall of Fame and he held the office of “Ambassador” of the Atlantic Beach Shag Club. He was a past member of the GOP Carteret County Men’s Club. For his service to Atlantic Beach, he was awarded several times with Proclamations by the Mayor and Town Council to recognize his contributions, and a day was set aside on the town’s calendar and designated as The Stevie Levy Day.

Stevie also had a strong faith and this faith was shown through his attendance and fellowship with his church friends. As Stevie’s health became an issue, many church ministers and congregation visited him at The Carteret House and he loved to pray and sing with the ministers. He loved attending the Parkview Baptist Church men’s gatherings for breakfast and lunch at his favorite restaurants where Stevie thoroughly enjoyed the fellowship and food. Special thanks to the staff at The Country Kitchen and Spots for keeping him fed and Memories Beach Club for putting a Diet Coke on the bar in honor and memory of Stevie. Stevie also knew the location of every buffet it appears in surrounding areas and in North Myrtle Beach. His favorite restaurants were Bojangles, Smithfield Seafood and Barbecue, Spots, and The Country Kitchen. Even though there were many items on the menu, it appears he had a culinary system for selecting certain items on certain days.

Stevie had a natural gift for performance and connecting with people. He carried kindness and warmth that made everyone feel welcome. He was a friend, mentor, and an icon to those who were lucky enough to know him. His love for life and people will live on forever in the memories of the people’s lives that he touched. These attributes of love and kindness explain his legions of friends and how much he was loved. To express his love for others he enduringly addressed his friends as Boss Man and Boss Lady. As a result, many ladies competed to be referred to as The Boss Lady One, Two, etc.

A special thank you is extended to everyone that loved Stevie throughout his life. These include the Atlantic Beach Shag Club and many other shag clubs too many to mention, DJ’s who played his song and recognized him, restaurants and club owners near and far that treated Stevie as royalty with free food and entrance, and all law enforcement who kindly watched out for his safety on the roads late at night.

The family would like to extend a special thank you to The Carteret House of Newport, the staff of Gentiva Hospice, the staff of doctors who personally oversaw Stevie’s care at the North Carolina Basnight Cancer Center at Chapel Hill, North Carolina and Carolina East in New Bern, North Carolina. Also, a special thank you to the many caregivers at these facilities that shared heartfelt love and tears knowing that Stevie was leaving this earthly life. It should be stated that the members of Parkview Baptist Church and Reverend John Carswell gave Stevie love and support as they made sure that he was included in all church activities after Stevie was unable to drive and visitations at home and at the Carteret House.

Special thanks to Clyde and Jane Bailey, Vada Palma, Bragg Dawson, Michael and Karen Dean, and Dona Hill who loved and oversaw his daily care for years in the light of not only loving Stevie but leading him through life to help him be the best he could be by letting him make responsible choices for his own life. It was so hard to say “No” to Stevie.

In lieu of flowers, donations should be made to the Parkview Baptist Church 4738 Arendell St, Morehead City, NC 28557

Family and friends are welcome to submit online condolences at www.mundenfuneralhome.net.

Arrangements by Munden Funeral Home & Crematory in Morehead City, NC.