Kerry Oneas Stevens

Born in Amory, Mississippi, on May 8, 1946, Kerry lived a life of service, dedication, and love. He made Brandon, Mississippi his home since 1986, where he built a life centered around family, faith, and community.

Kerry proudly served in the Army National Guard until his retirement in 2007. His distinguished military career included service with the Mississippi National Guard Joint Force Headquarters and the Camp Shelby Forces Training Center. His commitment to his country was unwavering, and his legacy of service will be remembered with honor.

Kerry’s life was deeply rooted in his faith. A dedicated member of First Baptist Church in Brandon, he served faithfully as a deacon and was actively involved in the church’s Nursing Home Ministry team and the Prayer Visitation team. His church was not just a place of worship, but the heart of his daily life and service to others.

A proud and passionate Mississippi State Bulldog fan, Kerry rarely missed a game and loved cheering on his team through every season. His Bulldog spirit was a constant in his life and a joy he shared with family and friends.

Kerry and his wife Anita were well-known and warmly welcomed at restaurants throughout the Jackson area and Starkville. Their familiar presence and kind demeanor earned them friendships with staff and patrons alike, so much so that they often received special privileges when visiting Starkville, a testament to the genuine connections they built wherever they went.

He is survived by his beloved wife of 59 years, Anita Randle Stevens; his sons Kevin Stevens (Crechale) and Brian Stevens (Laurie); grandchildren Morgan Stevens, Kaela Keefer (Tylar), Andrew and Conner Stevens, and Chase Soverns; and great-grandchildren Maddox and Austyn Stevens, and Layne and Lucy Keefer. Kerry was preceded in death by his parents, Oneas H. and Zoie Lee Stevens, and his sister Emily Kidd (Bill).

Kerry was loving, with a strong will and a straightforward nature that made him truly one of a kind. His love ran deep, even if it wasn’t always expressed in soft words. He will be remembered for his resilience, his deep devotion to family, his enduring faith, and his loyal service to his country. His absence leaves a deep and lasting void in the hearts of all who knew and loved him.

Services will be held on Saturday, July 26, 2025, at 11:00 a.m. at First Baptist Church, 309 South College Street, Brandon, MS 39042. Visitation will be held prior to the service from 9:30 to 11:00 a.m.

In lieu of floral tributes, the family respectfully requests that memorial donations be made to the Mississippi State Foundation in support of the George Wesley Reed Endowed Scholarship in Teaching & Coaching.

Online donations may be made at https://dda.msstate.edu/give-now?f=502164, or you may mail a check to the MSU Foundation, PO Box 6149, Mississippi State, MS 39762. In the memo line of the check, please write George Welsey Reed Endowed Scholarship in Teaching and Coaching and include a note that says this gift is made in memory of Kerry O. Stevens.