Stephen Owens Mills departed this life, April 5, 2026, at home surrounded by his family. Stephen was born July 1, 1949, at Fort Lee, VA. During his career he served in the United States Army, worked for Central State Hospital, the Federal Bureau of Prisons, and Verizon.

He was preceded by his parents, James F. Mills, Sr. and Florence V. Mills; one brother, James F. Mills, Jr.; and two nephews, Cory V. and Derrick A. Mills.

Stephen is survived by his wife, Barbara F. Mills; two sons, Stephen J. (LaShawn) and Michael R. Mills; two grandchildren, Ashleigh and Aliyah Coley, and one great-grandchild, Ava Love; two sisters, Jahnel V. Battle-Bey and Leatrice Harrison (Bernard); six sisters-in-law, Dorothy White, Elois F. Evans, Frances F. Dowling, Hattie F. Wilkins, Lisa F. Robinson, and Cheryl Fitzgerald; one brother-in-law, Leslie Fitzgerald, Jr. (Valdoris); and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, other relatives and friends.

Services will be held 11:00 A.M., Wednesday, April 15, 2026, in the Chapel of J. M. Wilkerson Funeral Establishment, Inc., 102 South Avenue, Petersburg, VA, the Rev. Corey Bland, eulogist. The interment to follow at Dinwiddie Memorial Park.

J. M. Wilkerson Funeral Establishment, Inc., 102 South Avenue, Petersburg, VA, (804) 732-8911, www.jmwilkersonsince1874.com. Watch the funeral services live online on our J. M. Wilkerson Funeral Establishment, Inc. Facebook page or click here to view: https://vimeo.com/event/5866068?fl=so&fe=fs