Stephen Freeman

Most of what is known about Stephen comes from his obituary as told by his sister. His parents were Earl and Elizabeth and he also had three brothers, Philip, Richard, and Dawud. A half-brother was added when his mother remarried. Home was in the Point Breeze section of South Philadelphia.    

When he was 18, Stephen was in his last year at Edward Bok Vocational School and would have graduated in 1966. But more men were being called up to help keep South Vietnam from falling to the Communist government of North Vietnam. Over 230,000 were drafted in 1965, more than double the number in 1964. Stephen left school early and signed up. He was promoted to sergeant while in Vietnam, but whether he served longer than the usual two years isn’t known. 

One other highlight of his tour was his decision to earn a high school equivalency diploma, which he did before leaving the service. He came home to resume life in South Philly with his family and being part of his church family at Friendship Baptist Church. Shown here on the corner of 18th and Wharton Streets, the congregation has been worshipping together and reaching out to their community since 1888.

Stephen discovered his calling was helping hospital patients heal. He attended Boston College and received his nursing degree, then came home to put it to good use at the Philadelphia Naval Hospital. This 15-story, 650-bed facility once stood at Pattison Avenue west of South Broad Street but was demolished in 2001. He was on the nursing staff from the late 1970s until it closed in 1993.

His last time at Friendship Baptist was his funeral there, joined by his mother, siblings, extended family, and friends, sad at his departure but rejoicing at his destination. He received a military gravestone after his burial here in Section C.