On November 24, 1959, a baby boy was born to Jackson and Dorothy [Williams] James, Jr. They named him Stephen Allen James, but he was better known as Steve.

Steve accepted the Lord at an early age and attended Mount Zion Missionary Baptist Church faithfully. He grew up in Muskogee and attended Muskogee Public Schools, where he graduated from Muskogee High School with the Class of 1978. After high school, he attended Oklahoma State Tech in Okmulgee, where he earned an associates degree in electronics in 1980.

Steve had a strong work ethic. He was currently employed as Shift Manager at Shoppers Value Food Store. Additionally, Steve was an avid sports enthusiast. He played basketball, baseball and softball until the age of 45. Then, he later took up coaching his three son's teams in baseball and football.

On Sunday, August 12, 2018, Stephen Allen James, in his 58th season of life, made his transition from Earth to Heaven. He was preceded in death by his maternal grandparents, Gilloe and Corene Williams, his paternal grandparents, Donald and Lois Maple and Jackson James, Sr., an aunt, Vernice Johnson and an uncle, Clyde Williams

Those remaining to lament his passing;  his loving wife, Ava James, of the home in Muskogee; his children, Jeremy James [Angel Martin], Tulsa, Oklahoma, Morgan James, Muskogee, Oklahoma, Maurice James, Shawnee, Oklahoma; Stavery and Staden James, of the home; five grandchildren, Kiara and Jeremy Jemes, Jr., Atlanta, Georgia, DaVaugn Johnson, Muskogee, Jacobi James, Tulsa, and Paris Jones, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma; his parents, Jackson and Dorothy James, Jr., his brother, Brian James, Muskogee, Oklahoma; his mother and father-in-law, Norman and Riletta Nixon; his sister-in-law, Tammy Huitt; four nieces, three nephews, a host of special cousins, and other family, including his aunts, Shirley Hudson, Marian Hankins, and an uncle Ronald Maple.

The Hour of Remembrance for Steve will commence on Saturday morning, August 18, 2018 at 11:00 A.M. in the York Street Christian Church, 1125 South York Street. Reverend David Ragsdale, Jr., Pastor of Mt. Zion Missionary Baptist Church, will officiate. Burial will follow in the Booker T. Washington Cemetery.