Georgia House Rep. Mickey Stephens of Savannah dies at age 77: 'A man of quiet strength'

Georgia House Representative Edward "Mickey" Stephens, D-Savannah, died Saturday after an extended illness and years of public service in Georgia. Stephens was 77 years old.

Stephens was first elected in 2002. After serving one term through 2004, Stephens returned to hold the seat for House District 165, encompassing much of east Savannah, from January 2009 until his passing.

Stephens, born on April 4, 1944, served on the House's Health and Human Services Committee, the Insurance Committee, the Legislative and Congressional Reapportionment Committee, the Regulated Industries Committee and the Ways and Means Committee in the 2019 and 2020 session.

Stephens' illness had sidelined him since 2019. He was hospitalized for three months in 2019, and hadn't cast a vote on legislation since the 2018 session. In recent years, he'd been homebound, but ran unopposed for re-election in November, winning 63% of the vote.

Stephens leaves behind his wife, Gloria, and children Karlis Stephens and Edward Stephens, Jr.

Fellow Savannah legislator and friend Ron Stephens said his legislative colleague was often "the glue" that held the Savannah delegation together. Despite being from opposing parties, Ron Stephens said his "brother from a different mother" was unfazed by partisan politics, and was quick to remind the Savannah delegation of their purpose.

"He made sure that we were always focused on the coast and Savannah-Chatham," Ron Stephens said.

Ron Stephens said he believes the Savannah representatives were, per capita, the strongest of any city in Georgia — there were a couple of times he put out campaign signs for Mickey Stephens.

Ron Stephens said out of all the issues that came across his colleague's desk, those involving education were the most important.

As a legislator, Mickey Stephens strongly backed measures intended to lower the school dropout rate, and advocated for improved vocational and technical education.

He was a product of the Savannah-Chatham County Public School System, graduating from Beach High School and later Savannah State University.

He worked as an educator for 32 years before retiring, teaching at both Richard Arnold High and Savannah High, where he was the head coach for girl's basketball and girl's track, and an assistant football coach for 17 years.

He was elected to represent District 2 on the Savannah-Chatham School Board in 2006, but left the post to win back his House seat in 2008.

"It seemed like he was an easygoing guy. Until you started talking about kids, or the potential of kids being treated unfairly, or the school board not acting fairly," Ron Stephens said. "Then his nostrils would flare out."

And he always had something up his sleeve, Ron Stephens said, something that could bring levity to a tense situation.

"Mickey was the best at coming up with something at the right time," Ron Stephens said. "We'd be in our yearly delegation hearings, trying to hear some of these folks as they come in, and he was the best at finding a light-hearted comment that would just break the ice and, more than anything else, bring it back to the ground."

Stephen's passion for the younger generation extended to his political work as well. Antwan Lang, now a member of the Chatham County Board of Elections, said Stephens was a mentor and a friend, always willing to go out of the way to give help to those who asked for it.

Lang said he looked at a photo on Saturday from a Georgia Municipal Association meeting from years ago, the first time he met Stephens. At the time Lang would've been around 17 or 18 years old, interning for then-alderwoman Mary Osborne.

"He gave me a lot of great advice in terms of what I was looking for, what I was looking to do, and he said anytime I need him to just give him a call," Lang said.

And when Lang was looking for internships, he made that call. His future mentor invited him over, and he sat on Stephens' burgundy couch, talking for hours about his future.

Stephens made some calls, and Lang — whom he often called his nephew — was in. He would go on to serve as a legislative aid to Sen. Lester Jackson, Stephens and the Georgia Legislative Black Caucus.

"One of the biggest things he taught me was how to not make a bunch of noise, but to get work done," Lang said.

When Lang's father died in 2017, he said Stephens was there to look out for him.

"He made sure that he was present, made sure that if I needed anything, he was there. And when my father passed, he was very instrumental in making sure that I got a proclamation from the state for my father," Lang said. "He was more than a legislator. He was a mentor, husband, a father who was an educator and a loyal friend."

House Speaker David Ralston (R-Blue Ridge) praised Stephens' "quiet strength."

“The passing of Mickey Stephens takes from us one of Georgia’s most solid leaders," Ralston said in a statement Saturday night.  "A man of quiet strength, Mickey was a pillar in the Georgia House and he was my dear friend.

“Mickey’s utmost priority was the well-being of his constituents and no one fought harder for their community.

“Our prayers are with Gloria and his family during this time.”

Please return to this breaking news story for updates. 

This article originally appeared on Savannah Morning News: Georgia House Rep. Mickey Stephens of Savannah dies at age 77: 'A man of quiet strength'