Brent was preceded in death by his father, Archie Stepp, and his mother, Nora Lunsford Stepp.
Brent attended SE Guilford High School and Guilford Technical Community College. He later retired from the United States Postal Service, where he worked as an Air Conditioning Technician—steady, capable, and proud of doing the job the right way.
Family and friendship mattered deeply to Brent. He had multiple Lunsford Cousins in Iredell County with whom he remained in close contact. He is also survived by his lifelong friends, Bruce Shipman of Kernersville and “my good buddy” Dale Tilley of Jonesville.
Brent’s everyday joys were wonderfully simple and unmistakably his: grilled cheese sandwiches and chicken tenders, a passion for anything Disney and Sea World, and the quiet satisfaction of photography—capturing moments the way he noticed them. Many will remember him most for something you could hear before you even saw him: his distinctive laugh, a sound that could lift a room and make the moment feel lighter.
Brent was a member of Pleasant Garden Baptist Church of God, where he poured himself into the life of the church and its people. He worked with Boy Scouts, supported the church youth, and volunteered at multiple fundraisers—hauling cooking equipment, cooking his famous chicken and fries, and making cotton candy, funnel cakes, and popcorn. He showed up, he helped, and he made it feel like home.
Pallbearers will be Karl Johnson, Kristian Johnson, Dale Tilley, Wilson Ruth, Randy Templeton, Bruce Shipman, and Barry Redmond. Honorary pallbearer will be Casey Templeton.
Brent will lie in repose at Bunch-Johnson Funeral Home in Statesville, North Carolina, on March 23, 2026, from 10:30 AM to 11:00 AM. A Funeral Service will be held in The Chapel of Bunch-Johnson Funeral Home on March 23, 2026, at 11:00 AM with Pastor Kestler W. Ruth officiating.
Interment will follow at Iredell Memorial Gardens in Statesville.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Awana Program at Pleasant Garden Baptist Church, PO Box 157, Pleasant Garden, North Carolina 27313.
Condolences may be shared with the family online at www.bunchjohnsonfuneralhome.com
Bunch-Johnson Funeral Home of Statesville is honored to be entrusted with the care of Brent and his family.
