Stef'An Strawder Obituary (1998

OBITUARY Stef'an Denzel Strawder, affectionately known as "Dee" to his family and friends, was born June 16, 1998, in Fort Myers, Florida, to Sylvester Strawder and Stephanie Elaine White. Stef'an walked into the loving arms of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ on July 25, 2016, at Lee Memorial Hospital. Stef'an was eagerly awaiting his senior year at Lehigh Senior High School, "Home of the Lightning." Stef'an began playing Pop Warner football at the tender age of 4, and since that time he developed an endless love of all sports. He played passionately with numer- ous AAU traveling basketball teams and had recently returned from playing in the AAU National Championship Showcase in Orlando. There was so much more to Stef'an than remarkable stats. He had a big heart, and he believed deeply in community outreach. He demonstrated this by mentoring, sharing his skills, talents and his love of the great game of basketball with his teammates and most especially with younger kids. Stef'an would have been entering his fourth season on his beloved Lehigh Lightning Varsity Basketball Team where he valued his teammates, coaching staff, teachers, administrators and schoolmates. He was happiest when he was able to motivate and inspire his teammates to pursue their dreams and take advantage of all of the opportunities afforded to them. He had such a love for them and this love was truly mutual. He had been scouted by numerous colleges and universities, and he aspired to become a student athlete on the University of Kansas Jayhawks Basketball Team. Stef'an was preceded in death by his paternal grandparents, Shirley and Willie Pasley and his maternal grandparents, Artis C. White and Robert Brown Sr. He was survived by his two biggest fans; his parents, Stephanie White and Sylvester Strawder of Lehigh Acres; one brother, Jarrell White of Orlando; four sisters, Sade and Mone'a Strawder of Lehigh Acres, and Alexis and LaShanti Strawder of Fort Myers; grandmother, Margaret Brown of Fort Myers; two nieces, Der'Riyah and Peyton; one nephew, Vernon; one aunt, Jacqueline Beck of Lehigh Acres; one uncle, Keith (Lisa) White of Fort Myers; five great uncles, four great aunts, and a host of cousins, family and sorrowing friends who loved him dearly.