Stefan (Bay Bay) Lavell Lavender

Tears
If tears could build a stairway, and memories a lane,
I'd walk right up to Heaven and bring you home again.
No farewell words were spoken no time to say goodbye
you were gone before I knew it, and only God knows why.
My heart still aches in sadness and secret tears still flow,
what it meant to lose you no one will ever know.

The Family of Stefan Lavender

Stefan Lavell Lavender was born May 20th, 1980 in Chicago, Illinois to Melody Lavender and Michael Howard. He was the eldest of five children. He transitioned from this earthly life to eternal life with his daughter on Thursday, March 26, 2015.

Stefan received his education through the Metropolitan Davidson County School system. At an early age, he professed a hope in Christ, and was baptized at First Baptist Church, of Nashville TN.

March 5, 2010 he united in holy matrimony to Ava Otey and to this union a loving family of eight was created and bonded. Stefan was a caring person with a big heart, who loved his family and friends passionately and unconditionally.

Stefan was kind, never meets a stranger and greeted everyone with a hug or a kiss on the forehead. Many knew Stefan as “Bay Bay”! He was a dedicated worker and a provider. He was currently employed as a manager at Five Guys.

Stefan loved sports, music but most of all his baby girls. He was a humble man with a very laid back demeanor, but a personality like no other. Stefan had a memorable voice and a smile that his presence would fill up any room with a lot of life, love and laughter! He will be missed by many but never forgotten

He was preceded in death by his loving daughter, Stephanie Lavender and uncles, Norwood Hutchinson and Richard Otey.

His memory will forever be cherished by his wife, Ava Otey-Lavender; 4 daughters, Chassity Lavender, Moniquea Otey, Timneisha Otey, and Aveyonna Otey; son, Lavell Cunningham; mother, Melody Lavender; father, Michael Howard; grandmother, Ida Lavender; great-great–grandmother, Maggie Johnson; 5 sisters, Latasha Lavender, Brittany Lavender (Brach), Coty Lavender, Sparkle Howard and Brandy Howard; 2 brothers, Keanthony Lavender (Tabria) and Michael Stampley; 3 sisters-in-law, Mary Otey-Greene (Al), Tamika Otey-Brown (Stacey), Shateka Edwards; 1 brother-in-law, Kevin Otey (Ava); 4 aunts, Natasha Nunn (James), Angela Lavender, Latoya Lavender and Kimberly Lavender; 2 uncles, Richard Lavender III, Reginald Lavender and Stefan “Uncle Bird“ Howard; 4 nieces, Janiya lavender, Makiyah Edwards, Kiyanah Edwards, AlSharrai Greene; 5 nephews, Joshua Lavender, Deshon Burleson, Adrian Lavender Marquese Otey and Breon Otey; devoted friends, Young (Wu-Shawn) Scates, Steven McShand, Dorthia Scates, Eugene Sanders, Sharita Sanders, Terrance Bryant, Travis Gaines, Timothy Johnson, China Pierce, Uncle Mike, Lil Will and Renee Gun; along with countless host of cousins, relatives and friends whom were blessed to know him.
Visitation Thursday, April 2, 2015 from 1:00 PM-8:00 PM at the funeral home.

Visitation Friday, April 3rd from 11 a.m. - 12 Noon, with funeral to follow at Greater Grace Community Church, 901 Dalebrook Lane, with Pastor Breonus Mitchell Sr., eulogist.
Interment Greenwood North Cemetery.
Services entrusted to Highland Hills Funeral Home, (615) 650-5555.