Stephen Perry Croft II was an incredibly loving husband, father, brother, son, uncle, and friend to many. Born on October 13, 1984, at a military base in Augsburg, Germany, Stephen was the older twin by ten minutes—a fact he loved to remind everyone of. His family includes his mother Margie Diller, father Jim Diller, biological father Stephen Croft Sr., sister Christy Graves, and his twin brother Randy Croft.

Stephen spent his childhood in Walthourville, GA, near Fort Stewart. Despite trying to settle elsewhere, he and Randy eventually made their way to Atlanta. After going through life changes, including a divorce, Stephen and I met, and we felt an instant connection. We married, and he embraced my children as his own.

As a father, Stephen was deeply dedicated and instilled strong values in our children. Aaron, our son, learned from him how to treat a woman with respect. Our daughter Emma gained a clear understanding of what to seek in a relationship, and Izzy experienced firsthand what it meant to have a father who was present, involved, and loving. Stephen attended every one of Aaron’s soccer games, rain or shine, and he was proud beyond words. He was equally committed to Emma, showing up to every volleyball game, even if it meant FaceTiming when he couldn’t be there in person.

One funny memory: On Free Ice Cream Day at Dairy Queen, Stephen convinced me to take the kids after my Zumba class. While ordering in the drive-thru, I noticed him wearing sunglasses—at 8:30 PM, in the middle of winter! The kids were laughing hysterically. After we got our ice cream, Stephen revealed he was “in disguise” because it was their second trip to Dairy Queen that day—they had gone earlier in his truck without me knowing! That was Stephen: full of fun, always scheming with the kids, but in the best way.

Stephen’s love wasn’t limited to just his children; he always talked about our future together. He, Izzy, and I were a team, planning for a life that would always include Izzy, who wouldn’t be able to live independently. We envisioned growing old together, and his dedication to family shaped our every plan.

Stephen was passionate about life. He loved traveling, dancing, and spending time together. From the very beginning, he set the tone for our relationship: we were inseparable, bound together forever, and that’s how we lived.

Professionally, Stephen’s intelligence and drive allowed him to rise from humble beginnings to great success. He worked his way from being a construction worker to a crane operator and eventually became an operations manager. His work ethic was unmatched, and he always went above and beyond to meet his responsibilities, never wanting to let anyone down.

Tragically, Stephen’s life was cut short at the age of 39. He passed away instantly in a fatal accident on April 19, 2024, in Macon, GA. His passing left a void that can never be filled, but his memory and the love he gave will live on in the hearts of all who knew him.

Stephen will forever be remembered as the greatest husband, father, son, brother, and friend anyone could have asked for.

“Those we love don’t go away, they walk beside us every day, unseen, unheard, but always near, still loved, still missed, and very dear.”