W. Steve Stevens

W. Steve Stevens, Esq April 3, 1934 to February 15, 2020 A life to be celebrated! W. Steve Stevens was born April 3,1934 to his mother, Clara Mae Stevens in Pine Bluff, Arkansas, the eldest of six children. Steve attended school in Pine Bluff where he graduated from Merrill High School and tied for valedictorian. After graduation he served in the Air Force from 1953 to 1957. There he trained as a radio operator, one of only four Black people in his class. After his military service he studied at Arkansas A.M.&N. College. He then spent some time living with his Aunt Vernelle in St. Louis, Missouri. Meanwhile Steve’s mother and stepfather, Albert Briggs, had moved their family to Pasadena, CA., in 1958 where he joined them in 1960. He was employed as a postal worker and continued his education at Cal State Los Angeles here he earned his undergraduate degree. He had a strong desire to study law. He enrolled at South Western Law School and applied for scholarships at UCLA and Stanford. He accepted a scholarship from Stanford University and blessed the law school with his skill, confidence and swagger as one of the few Black faces on Stanford’s campus and even served as the president of the Black Law Students Association. He graduated from Stanford University School of Law in 1970. Santa Clara County hired him as the first Black Public Defender in 1974. As an attorney he was known as a highly skilled trial lawyer with an unapologetic style that earned him the nickname “The Duke”. Always committed to uplifting his community, Steve started the Black Lawyers of Silicon Valley and co-founded the VIP Mentors Program, which matched youth on parole with attorney mentors. In the early 1980’s, Steve made an enthusiastic but ultimately unsuccessful run for Superior Court Judge in Santa Clara County. Though he didn’t win the election, his campaign inspired the community and earned him another nickname—“The Judge”. Throughout his time as a public defender he provided zealous, no-nonsense, but professional representation to low income defendants helping them to avoid unnecessary jail time and keeping families together. When he retired from the Public Defender’s office, he opened a private practice continuing his work as a fierce advocate for justice until he eventually retired from law practice. Steve was a man of deep faith and was very active as a member of Emmanuel Baptist Church, where he served as an adult Sunday School teacher, member of the Male Chorus and the Mass Choir. He was also member of the Prince Hall Masons, having joined the Masons in 1958 and becoming a 33rd degree Mason in the early 90s. Affectionately known as Brother, Uncle Steve, Papa Steve, Grandpa-Steve, and Dad, Steve was known for his sharp wit, charm, intelligence, impeccable style, generosity, and warmth. He enjoyed relating to people and never met a stranger in his life. He was an avid reader of legal thrillers and history, and he loved Star Trek. He enjoyed playing golf, watching TV and being with family and friends. He was a devoted and loving father and a dependable and loyal friend who would literally give you the shirt off his back. He died peacefully in his sleep, at the age of 85, surrounded by love early Saturday morning on February 15, 2020 in Elk Grove, California. He will forever be missed. Steve was preceded in death by his grandmother, Pearlie Stevens Keys, brother, Don Briggs, mother and stepfather, Clara and Albert Briggs and aunt, Vernelle Stevens. He is survived by his sisters; Raye Clendening, Ann Forbes and Nancy Clay and brother Roy Briggs; daughters Stephanie Wilkins and Sharla Stevens; Grandchildren Maxwell Webb, Nevaeh Webb, Sienna Wilkins and Isa Wilkins, honorary grandson Deriyan Moore III, as well as a host of nieces and nephews, other family members and loved ones.