James Glenn Stephens' Obituary
James Glenn Stephens, 60, of Longview, Texas passed away suddenly April 26, 2025. Glenn’s unfiltered personality was his superpower. His laugh and booming voice were like a force of nature. You could never have a memory of Glenn without a smile on your face. Those closest to him had a friend for life. He would stop anything he was doing to meet any need a friend might have. Glenn was a claims adjuster for Farmers Insurance for 28 years, but his true passion was criminal justice for which he received his degree from the University of Louisiana Monroe in 1988. Glenn went to work for the Gregg County Sheriff’s Department where he met the love of his life, Melanie Thompson. Glenn and Melanie were married August 26, 2000. While that was his greatest accomplishment to date, he topped that when he and Melanie traveled to Russia to bring home their son, Huston Aleksandr Stephens. Alek and Glenn were often inseparable: hunting, camping, or riding ATV’s through the mud. Melanie waited patiently at home anticipating how much these adventures were going to cost and that depended on what they tore up!
Glenn is survived by his wife, Melanie who balanced his personality with her patience and stability, his son, Alek, who was his pride and joy, his father, Ronald Stephens and wife, Linda, his sister, Cathy Cheatham and husband, Paul, Jennifer McKay and husband, Brandon, Bill Denman and wife, Jenny, Aunt Janis Babb and husband, Rusty, Nephews, Jacob Cheatham and wife, Juliann, Luke Cheatham and Brennan Fanquy.
Nieces, Courtney Cheatham, Channing Cheatham and Kendyl McKay. Cousins, Darrell Fite and wife, Kenda, Holly Richardson and husband, Matt, Garrett Babb and wife, Taylor and their children, Gavin and Georgia.
Glenn was reunited in Heaven with his mother, Lila Fite, niece, Ashley Akin, along with grandparents and friends that preceded him in death.
Services will be held 11 am, Saturday, May 3, 2025 at the Rosewood Park Pavilion with Pastor Tom McDaniels officiating under direction of Rader Funeral Home.
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