Obituary of Stephen Darren Little

Stephen Darren Little was born in Newark, New Jersey on November 1, 1960 to Howard Little and the Late Arnell Little. Stephen is the second youngest of three children, Kyle (Nancy) Little, and Sheila (Stacey) Williams. He graduated from Abraham Clark High School in 1978 where he made quite a name for himself. Playing football for most of his high school years, he was coined with the nickname, “Superman” by his Coach Holmes for a stunt he pulled during practice while wearing a Superman t-shirt. His love of sports drove him to also participate in track and field and baseball. Steve’s charismatic nature and strong speaking and writing skills afforded him membership and presidency in the Future Business Leaders of America (F.B.L.A) club where he led the team to several winning competitions. Before graduating high school, Steve committed himself to God and joined Morning Star United Holy Tabernacle Church in Linden, NJ. He quickly rooted himself in the church by serving as manager and singing several years with the Morning Star Youth Choir (MSYC). Under his effective management skills, MSYC became a well sought-after singing unit. He was instrumental in getting the choir appearances on programs with many local and famed gospel artists like Revival Temple Mass Choir with Charles and Jeff Banks, Donald Malloy, Alvin Darling Singers, Mattie Moss Clark, The Winans, and Yolanda Adams. Steve also managed MSYC through the recording of two Gospel albums, “Christ Offers Peace Everlasting “ and “Higher Praise”. Because of his work schedule he was unable to continue in a leadership capacity with the choir; however, he did return in 2017 and was involved in the planning of the upcoming 50th reunion celebration of MSYC for the church’s 50th anniversary. During this time, Steve also attended St. John’s University where he studied Business Affairs for two years. Because of his excellent communication skills and his unique ability to memorize baseball, football, and basketball player stats, he landed a Color Commentators job and did some sports writing before leaving St. Johns and joining the workforce. He eventually met and married his beautiful wife, Diane, and raised three wonderful children, LaTia, Christian, and Aaron. Steve met Diane Pope at a pool party he attended with his brother Kyle and friend Felix Bryant. That night, Steve told his brother after talking with Diane that he was going to try and catch up with her because “she might be the one.” Steve and Diane were married in 1989 and have resided since then in Carteret, NJ. Steve worked hard mostly nights and weekends for over 30 years at Sysco Foods (formerly Ritter) and U.S. Foods as a dispatch supervisor. During his heavy workload, he somehow managed to still remain active at Morning Star facilitating activities such as bus-rides to the Meadowlands for the Grambling games, and organizing a team where he played for several years in a baseball league. Steve became established and was a sought after Grill Chef for his artistic and tasteful culinary skills. He gained so much fame cooking for family and friends that it led him to cooking in his hometown, but very well-known throughout the tri-state area, Roselle House Music Festival along with the Annual Roselle Celebrity Softball Game. Steve loved his friends and family and made an effort to stay connected with those present in his life as well as those from the past. Although he finished his high school years in Roselle, he always kept in touch with his So. 16th Street & South Ward childhood friends, Anthony, Jeffery, Raymond, Michael, Sammie, Crilly, David & Chris. Stephen focused for many years on his most impressive life skills and his greatest accomplishments of becoming a loving husband, a caring and very present father, and a wonderful family provider. His sudden departure has left a hole in our hearts, but an awesome appreciation for who he was and how much he meant to us. Steve is survived by his loving wife Diane Little; three children LaTia Pope, Christian Little, Aaron(Desiree) Little; grandchild Liberty Pope; father Howard Little; two siblings Kyle (Nancy) Little, and Sheila (Stacey) Williams; two aunts Elizabeth-Betty Murphy and Bernestine-Teenie Harris; uncle Roosevelt (Rose); sisters-in-law Judy Williams, Josephine Harris, Beatrice Jones and brother-in-law Kevin Phillips; cousins Clarence-Butch Hayes, Melvin (Gayle) Murphy, Lloyd (Suzanne) Holmes, Norma-Maria Holmes, Patrice (Matt) Kuss, Mignon (Shane) Clark, Kevin Butler, Kalen (Devin) Butler, Adarian (Michelle) Lawson and Beverly-Sandy (Willie) Woods; nieces Brenda (Brian) Beasley, Jeanette and Janai Williams, Sweyah Phillips, and Melissa (Adrian) Levy; nephews Kyle (Danny)Little-Miller and Terence Williiams, and a host of cousins great nieces, great nephews, and some wonderful friends.