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IN LOVING MEMORY OF Lt. Joel Sterling Stephens
Lt. Joel
Sterling Stephens
Nov 23, 1959 — Dec 20, 2018
Lt. Joel Sterling Stephens' Obituary
Joel Stephens, Remembered.
What do we truly mean when we say "Gone, but not forgotten"? As I sat at our Roll Call this morning looking across the table at my crew of firefighters, it dawned on me, the answer to that question.
Joel Stephens passed away yesterday, and I wanted to tell not so much of his passing, but of who Joel was. Who he was to me, and who he was to the Houston Fire Department.
Most of our crew at Station Seven are young fire fighters and missed the opportunity to know and work with Joel, but they still carry Joel's knowledge and expertise with them. Joel stressed the importance of passing on knowledge and experience. We listened and passed what he taught us onto the ones who never had the opportunity to know him. Much of what they now know and do, came from Joel.
He was not only an incredible fire fighter, but he was also an incredible teacher. He was always teaching, instructing and mentoring everyone that met him. He had a way about him, he would lead you to make the right decision, and to not feel intimidated if you did not know the answer.
I will always remember how Joel would drop and roll his head and come up with this grin, look you in the eye, and lead you to come up with right answer to his question. He may not have been an officer, but he was always a leader. He was passionate about his profession and he was a true professional in every sense. He not only knew what to do, but he could, and would, physically do it. Joel Stephens not only, talked the talk, but he also always walked the walk.
When Joel was a firefighter at Station 25-B in the mid-eighties, (old B-shift), he worked with Captain Clifford Reed. Talk about a friendship that lasted.
Joel was a Bull on the fire ground, and as Captain Reed said, he could, and would do it all. Back in the eighties Joel and his side kick at 25's, firefighter Steve Lutton decided to go to Bull fighting school. Not long after they graduated, Joel showed up for work one morning limping and with hide missing from several areas on his body. Though I don't remember the story, I would have to think that Joel ended his Bull fighting career early to save the Bulls, Lol.
Back in the eighties we had District Softball Teams and Joel was our Catcher. As with everything Joel did he played hard and at full throttle. With the bases empty whenever the batter would hit the ball, Joel would jump up and run down the first base line to back up the throw to first base. That was impressive, but what was really impressive was that Joel would almost always beat the runner to First Base!
Joel wrapped up his career as the E/O on Ladder 7-D, where, as always, he excelled in every aspect of his career. He drove Senior Captains, Hauck, Larson and Turner. All three speak of him using words like "Best Ever" "One of a kind" and any number of other terms describing a true professional and friend. He worked on the same truck as Mr. T., aka, Thomas Morant, a legend at 7's. Wow, what a Truck Crew, Joel, Mr. T, any one of the three Seniors he drove and whoever else that was blessed with the opportunity to ride, watch, and learn.
As time goes by names and faces fade, but the knowledge and expertise that they pass along lives on. Joel worked hard to pass on his knowledge and experience. As long as his knowledge, wisdom and expertise are still used and passed along, he will continue to have a positive impact on the firefighters and the citizens of Houston long after he has been gone.
Rest in Peace Brother, you have fought a good fight. You prepared others to carry on your legacy in your absence. As they say Joel, "We will take it from here." You will be missed!
Prayers for Joel and Lisa.
What do we truly mean when we say "Gone, but not forgotten"? As I sat at our Roll Call this morning looking across the table at my crew of firefighters, it dawned on me, the answer to that question.
Joel Stephens passed away yesterday, and I wanted to tell not so much of his passing, but of who Joel was. Who he was to me, and who he was to the Houston Fire Department.
Most of our crew at Station Seven are young fire fighters and missed the opportunity to know and work with Joel, but they still carry Joel's knowledge and expertise with them. Joel stressed the importance of passing on knowledge and experience. We listened and passed what he taught us onto the ones who never had the opportunity to know him. Much of what they now know and do, came from Joel.
He was not only an incredible fire fighter, but he was also an incredible teacher. He was always teaching, instructing and mentoring everyone that met him. He had a way about him, he would lead you to make the right decision, and to not feel intimidated if you did not know the answer.
I will always remember how Joel would drop and roll his head and come up with this grin, look you in the eye, and lead you to come up with right answer to his question. He may not have been an officer, but he was always a leader. He was passionate about his profession and he was a true professional in every sense. He not only knew what to do, but he could, and would, physically do it. Joel Stephens not only, talked the talk, but he also always walked the walk.
When Joel was a firefighter at Station 25-B in the mid-eighties, (old B-shift), he worked with Captain Clifford Reed. Talk about a friendship that lasted.
Joel was a Bull on the fire ground, and as Captain Reed said, he could, and would do it all. Back in the eighties Joel and his side kick at 25's, firefighter Steve Lutton decided to go to Bull fighting school. Not long after they graduated, Joel showed up for work one morning limping and with hide missing from several areas on his body. Though I don't remember the story, I would have to think that Joel ended his Bull fighting career early to save the Bulls, Lol.
Back in the eighties we had District Softball Teams and Joel was our Catcher. As with everything Joel did he played hard and at full throttle. With the bases empty whenever the batter would hit the ball, Joel would jump up and run down the first base line to back up the throw to first base. That was impressive, but what was really impressive was that Joel would almost always beat the runner to First Base!
Joel wrapped up his career as the E/O on Ladder 7-D, where, as always, he excelled in every aspect of his career. He drove Senior Captains, Hauck, Larson and Turner. All three speak of him using words like "Best Ever" "One of a kind" and any number of other terms describing a true professional and friend. He worked on the same truck as Mr. T., aka, Thomas Morant, a legend at 7's. Wow, what a Truck Crew, Joel, Mr. T, any one of the three Seniors he drove and whoever else that was blessed with the opportunity to ride, watch, and learn.
As time goes by names and faces fade, but the knowledge and expertise that they pass along lives on. Joel worked hard to pass on his knowledge and experience. As long as his knowledge, wisdom and expertise are still used and passed along, he will continue to have a positive impact on the firefighters and the citizens of Houston long after he has been gone.
Rest in Peace Brother, you have fought a good fight. You prepared others to carry on your legacy in your absence. As they say Joel, "We will take it from here." You will be missed!
Prayers for Joel and Lisa.
Love and Respect.
From Houston Firefighters and the citizens we serve ?
From Houston Firefighters and the citizens we serve ?
Funeral Services for Lt. Joel Sterling Stephens
Memorial Visitation
January
4
Friday
Oak Ridge Baptist Church
9:30 - 10:30 am
Memorial Service
January
4
Friday
Oak Ridge Baptist Church
Starts at 11:00 am
Lt. Joel Sterling Stephens' Guestbook
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