Steven James Whitehead, known affectionately to friends and family as “Bodinie,” was a man who lived his life with the kind of infectious joy that could light up the darkest room. Born on November 29, 1983, in the quaint town of Lawrenceburg, TN. Steven embarked on life’s grand adventure, which, after a series of memorable escapades, concluded in Hohenwald, TN, on February 8, 2026.
Steven was a beloved son to his late mother, Judy Oxendale (Yother) of Forsythe, GA, as “the most beautiful baby she had ever seen.” As well as a loving son to his father, Johnny Riley Whitehead of the small, close-knit community Moccasin Creek, in Waynesboro, TN. He spent his youth in his Lewis County home, with his father and his late stepmother, Chris Whitehead.
More often than in the home, he spent his time on wild adventures, or in his clubhouse, in the woods with all his closest friends. Steven was a best friend to Laura Horner (Whitehead) and husband to Savannah Whitehead. He had all the love in the world for his children, Xavier, Tinzlee, Nathaniel, Shiloah, Dallas, Gideon, and his son of the heart, Keegan. His siblings, Laura, Adam, and Doug, along with his sister-niece Molly, often found themselves both amused and bemused by his antics.
His nieces and nephews—Claire, Zowie, Derby, Korbin, Tristen, Bodi, and Jamie; as well as his great nieces and nephew We Lanely, Colt, and Ellie—knew him as the uncle who never really grew up, and who was always ready to have fun.
Professionally, Steven was very skilled and took pride in the work that he had done as a framer in construction. Mainly, he constructed a life of laughter and surprises. Always a twist and a turn. His former colleagues, however, knew him as the guy who could find humor in a bag of nails and would often turn a regular day on the job site into an episode of a comedy show.
Outside of work, Steven’s interests were as eccentric as his sense of humor. He was an artist at heart. His passion for “junking” and “piddling” wasn’t just about finding treasures—it was about finding stories in the discarded and overlooked. Steven also had a monthly tradition of handing out gifts and lottery tickets to random people, the first day of every month. A testament to his belief that it’s the small gestures that make the biggest difference. He always had an elaborate scheme brewing, in the works. meant to fix everything for all of those that he deeply loves.
Steven’s ability to make people happy was unmatched. He knew the power of a smile, and he wore his own as if it was his life’s mission to spread cheer. His charm had carried him far alongside his heart. His sense of humor was as funny as it was friendly, and one could say he was the unofficial ambassador of good times and letting yesterday go. Most people could never have guessed what he might say from one minute to the next. He always had his loved ones on their toes and in meditation and prayer.
Words that best describe Steven would be loving, spontaneous, and tenaciously arbitrary. He had a knack for turning life’s ordinary moments into extraordinary memories, and his legacy is one of joy, kindness, and the enduring power of laughter.
Though Steven’s final curtain call came too soon, the echoes of his laughter will resonate forever in the hearts of those who knew him.
A celebration of life will take place at a later date and time.
Adair Funeral & Cremation Services is assisting the Whitehead family with arrangements. https://www.adairfuneralservices.com
For more obituaries visit https://maurycountysource.com/obituaries/
Subscribe to our FREE Newsletter!