Jacob Stevens Obituary, Death – Jacob David Stevens, who was 41 years old and taught auto shop at the school he loved, Garner Magnet High School, passed away unexpectedly at his home on Monday night. His death came as a shock to his family and friends. In 1999, he received his diploma from Garner Senior High, and after spending some time at Appalachian State University, he completed his education at Wake Tech and received his degree. Before beginning his sixteen-year tenure at Garner Senior, he held a position with the Town of Garner. In recognition of his outstanding work as an educator, the Shep Wadsdell Award was bestowed upon him in 2008.
He was a kind and kind man who cherished his marriage to Allison and his son Wade, who was 15 years old. Because he was friendly and helpful to others, people liked him. It was commonly known that he was an excellent teacher. Jake loved baseball. He played third base for Garner Senior, but he claimed that he didn’t realize how poorly he played until after he retired from the sport. He spoke at length about the time when he botched three consecutive plays in a row.
Football gradually grew to become his preferred sport. It wasn’t until he was a sophomore in high school that he gave football a try for the first time. By the time he was a senior, he had earned positions on the varsity football team as a quarterback, place kicker, and punter. He suffered a broken leg while making a tackle during his senior season, but he returned for the state playoffs and played a key role in the Trojans’ run to the state 4-A title game.
In his new role as an assistant football coach at Garner Senior, he assisted Hal Stewart, his former head coach, as well as Nelson Smith and Thurman Leach, the coaches who took over for Stewart after his retirement. He cherished his role as a coach and the opportunity to interact with young men. He was almost always the first one to arrive at school and the last one to depart after everyone else had already left. It appeared as though everything he touched turned to gold. When someone required his assistance, though, he did take a moment to slow down for a moment. After that, time was of no consequence.
Jake was a fervent advocate of technical and vocational education, and he took great pride in the success of his past pupils who had gone on to obtain well-paying employment in the manufacturing industry. He sought to help his former students acquire jobs. Many of his former pupils consider him to be the most influential educator they’ve ever had. Others have commented on how much of an impact he had on their life. He was a man with powerful convictions and opinions that were deeply held. His wife Allison, his son Wade, his parents Tim and Donna Stevens, his sisters Susanna and Elizabeth Edwards (Patrick), and a large number of other relatives are among those who will miss him after his passing.
At the Aversboro Road Baptist Church in Garner on Tuesday, April 16, at 3:30 p.m., there will be a celebration of his life to celebrate his life. After then, there will be a period for guests to arrive. The funeral is going to take place at a later date. In lieu of sending flowers, the family requests that you kindly consider making a contribution to the Jacob D. Stevens Memorial Scholarship Fund. This fund will provide financial assistance to students majoring in automotive. Show N Tell Ministries can be reached for financial support at the Jacob D. Stevens Memorial located at 125 Bonica Creek Drive, Garner, North Carolina 27529.