Mr. Henry Steven Childress

Henry Steven Childress, 88, of Waxhaw, NC, died Saturday, December 14, 2024, at his home. Born July 27, 1936, in Richlands, VA, he was the son of the late Henry S. and Ruth Lambert Childress of Beckley, WV. Steve served in the U.S. Army from 1955 to 1958 as a Military Policeman with the Headquarters, Allied Land Forces Southeastern Europe, Izmir Turkey, attaining the rank of Specialist 3 rd Class. He earned a B.A degree in 1961 from the University of Southwestern Louisiana. Steve served as a U.S. Capitol Police officer in Washington, DC, in the offices of U.S. Senator Russell Long and briefly served as a fingerprint clerk with the Federal Bureau of Investigation followed by five years in the Washington, DC, area as a Sales Manager for Sinclair Oil Corporation. Steve found his true calling in 1969 working in cemetery sales, marketing and management. Over the course of his career, he became the National Sales Director for Southeastern Advertising and Sales Systems headquartered in Atlanta, GA, owned six cemeteries and one funeral home, served on Board of Directors for the American Cemetery Association, and was the Vice President of Cemetery and Combination Operations and on the Board of Directors for the Loewen Group, Vancouver, Canada, until his retirement in 1997. In retirement, Steve was fixated on building a home for himself and his wife Doris and selling it before the address could officially be recorded by family only to move on to build the next one. His hobbies included fishing, playing chess, and trying his best at playing golf but what he enjoyed most of all is spending time with his grandchildren and great grandchildren who grew to know him as a goofy but loving prankster. In addition to his parents, he is preceded in death by a daughter, Joella Elizabeth Carlyon and brother John Joseph Childress. He is survived by his wife of 39 years, Doris Childress; three sons: Steven Anthony Childress and his wife Tracy of Waco, TX, Alexander John Childress and his wife Kim, of Richardson, TX, and Anthony Henry Childress and his wife, Amy, of Plano, TX; a step-daughter, Debbie Robertson Steele and her husband, Terry, of Weddington, NC, and a step-son, Dan Keith Robertson and his wife, Vesta, of Woodstock, GA; and fourteen beloved grandchildren: Stefanie Mikala Childress, Steven Austin Childress, Stedson Ace Childress, Amanda Mary Davila, Ashley Elizabeth Childress, Emily Taylor Marquez, Preston Anthony Childress, Andre Alexander Childress, Alexis Michelle Childress, Taylor Gray-Childress, Sarah Alexandra Carlyon, Matthew Grant Carlyon, Katie Steele Hall, and Anna Steele Pickard; and nine precious great grandchildren: Emma Austin Childress, Olivia Marie Childress, Gabriella Kate Childress, Kolton Connor Childress, Ruby Joy Davila, Deacon Davila, Bryce Sheppard Hall, Harlyn Leigh Pickard and Anson Michael Pickard. There will be a family viewing on Friday, December 20, 2024, at 1:00 p.m. at Feldhaus Memorial Chapel, Shelbyville, TN, and interment following at 2:00 p.m. at Hillcrest Funeral Home and Cemetery, with full military honors, in Shelbyville, TN. Brother Jimmy Gray will be officiating. In lieu of flowers, the family wishes for contributions to be made to the American Heart Association or American Cancer Society.

Mr. Henry Steven Childress

July 27, 1936 - December 14, 2024