Mr. Andre Stephens

Obituary Life Reflections Andre’ Jamal Stephens was born on February 25, 1982, at Research Medical Center in Kansas City, Missouri as the youngest child of Dwayne E. Stephens, and Jaunice Kennybrew-Johnson. Andre adored the Kansas City metropolitan area and considered it his hometown until his unexpected passing on Saturday, April 16, 2022, at the age of 40. At an early age, Andre accepted Jesus Christ as his savior and was proudly baptized by his grandfather and Pastor Reverend Charles Kennybrew, at 9th Street Baptist Church in Lawrence, Kansas. He would later become a member of the Antioch Baptist Church, Kansas City, Kansas where again he was pastored by his grandfather Reverend Charles Kennybrew. The congregation warmly embraced and encouraged Andre’ to continue worshiping the Lord after his grandfather’s retirement and under the leadership of Reverend Meredith Sullivan, Pastor. Throughout his life, Andre held a very strong personal relationship with God, and he was a firm believer in following the ways and teachings of Jesus Christ. To all those who were blessed to truly know him, Andre was renowned for his devotion to his friends and family, his jovial sense of humor, his love of Kansas City Chiefs football, and his ambitious and resilient nature. He was particularly a very loving father, husband, son, cousin, grandchild, nephew, and brother. To that end, Andre was also known for his impromptu tendency to reach out to the people he loved, no matter the time of day, to simply express and reaffirm his feelings of gratitude, love, and admiration. Andre was a 2001 graduate of Paseo Academy of Fine and Performing Arts, where he learned to play the saxophone and first developed his notorious passion for music. During his youth, he particularly enjoyed the classic and traditional sounds of jazz greats like Duke Ellington, Charlie “Bird” Parker, and Wayne Shorter. During his free time, he also enjoyed listening to 1990’s era hip-hop and RnB as a means to relax and unwind from the stresses of everyday life. In addition to his high school accomplishments, Andre also completed a 2-year culinary certification program at Kansas City’s Manuel Career Technology Center in 2001 before beginning his diverse 20-year career in the culinary arts. The culmination of his hard work and professionalism was directly evidenced by his selection to temporarily fill a key management role within the restaurant group where he was well-regarded and employed as a chef. In summation, Andre was an affectionate, protective, caring, religious, determined, and charming man who will be remembered for the joys he always desired to bring to the lives of everyone that knew him. He is proceeded in death by his father: Dwayne E. Stephens; brother: Daunte Thomas; niece: Delicia Johnson; paternal grandparents: Herman and Dorothy Stephens; grandparents: Clarence and Irene Williams Sr.; aunt: Rosemary Williams, and uncle: Terrence Williams. Andre’ leaves to continue his legacy and cherish his memories; wife: Jennifer Stephens; daughter: Nevaeh Stephens; step-daughters: Brianna Martinez (Marcus), Destiny Cole; parents: Jaunice and Clarence Williams Jr.; sister: Latreece Williams; brothers: Darreyl Johnson(LaToya), El'tionte Akins, Michael Stephens(Maria); maternal grandparents: Charles and Christine Kennybrew; aunts: Anna Kennybrew-Robinson (Bobby), Donna Stephens-Johnson, Denise Rivers; cousins: Tiaunna Martinez (Aaron), Weylin Bruce (Shannon), Byron Bruce (Olga), RaShaunda Mutai (Conley), Tawanna Williams, Demond Williams (Christy), Charles Agee Jr. (Rosalind), Bryan Agee, Monica Agee-Tillman, Farrah Riddick, Thomas Kenneth Rivers; nieces, nephews and a host of other loving relatives and friends. Funeral Service will be held Saturday, April 30, 2022, 2:30pm at the Watkins Heritage Chapel. Private Disposition. Visitation will be from 1pm-2:30pm at the chapel Service conducted by Lawrence A. Jones & Sons Funeral Chapel. Condolences may be shared on our website. To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Mr. Andre Stephens, please visit our floral store. Read More

Mr. Andre Stephens

February 25, 1982 - April 16, 2022