Stephenson-Dearman Funeral Home

Brother, I still don't have the words. It doesn't seem possible that you're gone.
You were one of those rare people who truly never met a stranger. From Southeast Arkansas all through the Delta, there are so many people who have so many stories and memories with you. There wasn't a mud ride, mud hole, fishing trip, back road, or gathering that you didn't somehow make better just by showing up.
You were the guy everyone could count on. If somebody was stuck, out of gas, had a flat tire, needed help, or just needed a friend, you were there. No questions asked.
Thank you for being a friend to my family all these years. My son was only 7 years old when y'all met on a mud ride. He's 22 now, and in all those years he never forgot the memories, the laughs, and the good times he had with you. The fact that he was the one who called me to tell me what happened says everything about the impact you had on his life. Those friendships and memories stayed with him all these years because that's the kind of person you were.
What breaks my heart the most is thinking about your little girl. Everybody knew that girl was your world, and you were hers. From the very beginning, she was right there by your side. Riding next to you on that little console, fishing, looking at rocks, throwing rocks, riding back roads, and going wherever life took y'all together.
The bond the two of you shared was something special and something everyone could see. She wasn't just your daughter, she was your best buddy, your sidekick, and your shadow. If you were going somewhere, chances were she was right there with you. Some of the best memories of her childhood were made sitting beside her Daddy, doing the simple things that meant everything.
While our hearts are broken, one thing nobody can ever take away from her is the lifetime of memories you gave her. She has a thousand moments that belong only to the two of you. The laughter, the adventures, the fishing trips, the muddy rides, the talks, the hugs, and all the little things that made your relationship so special.
Your little girl will always carry a piece of you with her. Every time she sees a fishing pole, a muddy road, a riverbank, or a pile of rocks that catches her eye, she'll remember her Daddy. The love between the two of you was the kind of bond that never fades. You may no longer be beside her the way she wants, but you'll forever be a part of her heart, walking with her through every step she takes in life.
My prayers are with Ashley. My heart hurts for her because no mother wants to see her child hurting like this. Ashley now has the difficult job of helping your little girl navigate a loss that is far bigger than words can explain. I pray God gives her strength, comfort, and peace in the days ahead, and that she knows she doesn't have to carry that burden alone.
And to your parents, my heart aches for you. There is no greater pain than losing a child. I pray God surrounds you with comfort, peace, strength, and the love of family and friends as you walk through the days ahead.
Brother, your tracks may end here, but the memories you left behind never will. They'll live on in every mud ride, every fishing trip, every story told among friends, and every life you touched along the way.
Thank you for being the kind of man people could count on. Thank you for the memories, the friendships, the laughter, and the loyalty you gave so freely.
You were loved by so many, and you'll be missed more than words can ever say.
Until we meet again, my friend