Stephen James Kiriakos

Stephen James Kiriakos, born on December 11, 1957, in Kansas City, Missouri, went to be with The Lord on October 8, 2020.  His parents were Mayhue 'Mike' Kiriakos and Shirley Blanche Sowell Kiriakos, both deceased. 

Steve was a 1976 graduate of Shawnee Mission Northwest High School in Shawnee, Kansas, a 1980 graduate of The University of Kansas in Lawrence, Kansas, and a 2006 graduate of Athens Technical College.  For many years he was a Special Markets Sales Manager for Sierra, Inc., a marine parts company in Litchfield, Illinois, covering the southeast region of the United States.  Steve then became the first Recreation and Outreach Director for The ROC at First Baptist Church in Elberton, Georgia; an Instructor for the Commercial Truck Driving Program at Athens Technical College - Elbert County Campus; a Regional/Local Driver for Superior Carriers, Inc., in Morrow, Georgia; and fulfilled his entrepreneurial spirit by building handcrafted outdoor furniture as Cross Wood Products and open fire grills as Frontier Cooker.

Through the years Steve has had many great experiences: riding great Yamaha and Kawasaki touring bikes, skydiving (he said once was enough), floating in the Goodyear blimp (that he did multiple times),  hiking to the top of Longs Peak in Colorado (elevation 14,259), backpacking parts of the Appalachian Trail, riding in the Bike Ride Across Georgia (Atlanta to Savannah), and playing signature golf courses across the U.S.

Most important to Steve was spending time with his 'lovely bride, Miss Amanda', studying The Word and spending time with other Believers, and talking on the phone with family and friends.  

In 2001 he was thrown from a vehicle and spent months in bed recovering.  In 2018 he completed surgery, chemo and radiation for cancer in his throat.  January 2020 he was diagnosed with the same type of cancer, but in his liver this time.  Through it all he had a wonderful attitude, praising and thanking the Lord for His divine blessings and loving care.

Steve leaves behind his wife of 25 years, Laurie Amanda Cromer Kiriakos; sisters, Marsha (Steve) Ruse (Overland Park, KS) and Susan Kiriakos (Gallatin, MO); in-laws, Neal and Ellen Cromer (Elberton, GA); sister-in-law, Mel (Doug) Jackson (Milledgeville, GA); and nieces and nephews: Kevin (Andrea) Ruse (Lone Jack, MO), Amy (Baldwin) Cheung (Shawnee, KS), Lauren Jackson, Clay Jackson, and Sara Jackson (all of Milledgeville, GA).  Also, he will be missed by all the participants of the weekly Bible Study held at the Kiriakos home: Amanda, Neal, Bob, Gay, Roland, Linda, Rick, Chris, Lucinda, Ron, and Molly, along with all the guys who came for the Friday Night Fires at Kamp Kiriakos.

A big thank you to the staff at Compassionate Care Hospice and Walmart Pharmacy for working together to make his last weeks comfortable.

An outdoor visitation will be held from 4:30 pm - 6:30 pm on Tuesday, October 13, at the family home, 1388 Brown Brothers Road, Elberton, GA.  Burial will be in Latimer Cemetery Calhoun Falls, SC

Flowers are accepted and donations are encouraged in his memory to T.J. & Friends Foundation, P.O. Box 661, Elberton, GA  30635 or The Cancer Foundation of Northeast Georgia, P.O. Box 49309, Athens, GA 30604 or www.cfnega.org.  

Those wishing may sign the online guestbook at www.berryfh.com.

Berry Funeral Home & Crematory of Elberton is respectfully in charge of arrangements for Stephen James Kiriakos.