Tuesday, April 9, 2024
Jimmy was the oldest member of the Stephenson Cousin Clan. There were seven cousins and 10 years between Jimmy and me, so I do not have many early memories of him. My first vivid memories of Jimmy are when he had his teenage growth spurt, growing to 6’6”, taller than anyone else in the family. The younger cousins held him in high esteem. He became a standard unit of measure - things were as big as Jimmy, not as big as Jimmy, or bigger than Jimmy to the rest of us. His uncles and aunts were very proud of him. We attended several BCHS basketball games to see him play. It was a great source of pride to see his name printed in the program, and realize he was our very own cousin. He was like a celebrity to us. I was never particularly close to Jimmy due to age difference and unfortunate breaking of family ties, but he was always kind, and never “too big” to associate with the rest of us when we were together.
In later years, I have enjoyed adult conversations with Jimmy, and always found him to be a respectful, and a fun-loving person. He was very proud of his children, grandchildren, and always ready to show pictures of his great granddaughters.
Jimmy will be missed at family gatherings. We are sorry we will not be able to attend the memorial service.
Condolences to Sherry, Michelle and family. - Betty and Monte
