Jacob Stevens

Jacob David Stevens, 41, an automotive teacher at his beloved Garner Magnet High School, died unexpectedly at his home on Monday night.

He was a 1999 graduate of Garner Senior High and later attended Appalachian State University before graduating from Wake Tech. He worked for the Town of Garner before beginning his 16-year career at Garner Senior. He was the 2008 winner of the Shep Wadsdell Award at the school for outstanding instruction.

He was a good, caring person who loved his wife, Allison, and 15-year-old son Wade. He was known for being kind-hearted and giving. His prowess as a teacher was legendary.

Jake loved baseball. He was a third base starter for Garner Senior, but he said he never realized that he wasn’t very good until he quit playing. He often would talk about the time he made three errors on one play.

Football gradually became his athletic passion. He did not play football until his sophomore year in high school, but eventually was a quarterback, place kicker, and punter on the varsity. He broke his leg making a tackle during his senior season but rejoined the team for the state playoffs and helped the Trojans to the state 4-A championship game.

He became an assistant football coach at Garner Senior, working with his former coach Hal Stewart and Stewart’s successors, Nelson Smith, and Thurman Leach. He loved coaching and the opportunity the work with young men.

He was often the first person at school, sometimes was the last to leave, and seemed to run as a finely tuned engine. About the only time he slowed down was when someone needed his help. Then, time was irrelevant.

Jake was a strong advocate for vocational education, and he reveled in his former students who found well-paying jobs in mechanical fields. He worked to find jobs for his former students. Many of his students say he was the best teacher that they ever had. Others said that he changed their lives.

He was a person of strong faith and strong opinions.

He is survived by his wife Allison and son Wade; parents Tim and Donna Stevens; sisters Susanna and Elizabeth Edwards (Patrick), and many extended family members.

His celebration of life will be held Tuesday at 3:30 p.m., at Aversboro Road Baptist Church in Garner. A visitation period will follow. The burial will be held later.

In lieu of flowers please consider a donation to the Jacob D. Stevens Memorial Scholarship Fund, which will supply college scholarship money to automotive students: Contributions may be made out to Show N Tell Ministries, Jacob D. Stevens Memorial, 125 Bonica Creek Drive, Garner, NC 27529