Emma Jean (Jacobson) Steege

“Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his saints.” Psalm 116:15

For her many loved ones, our world became a sadder dwelling place on Tuesday, January 13th, 2026, when Emma Jean “Dempsey” Jacobson Steege, 84 years of age, became “absent from the body” and “present with the Lord” following a brief illness. Born on July 13th, 1941, Demp was the eldest in a family of eight children. Born prematurely, she was considered a miracle baby because of her tiny size. A native and lifelong resident of Bay Minette, Alabama, she graduated from Baldwin County High School in 1960 and married the love of her life, John Wesley “Buddy” Steege on July 6th, 1960. They were happily married for almost 34 years before his death on June 21st, 1994. 

Besides her husband, Demp was preceded in death by her parents, Irby and Gladys Jacobson, and two of her sisters, Sarah Smith and Bonnie Kennedy. She is survived by her devoted children: her son and daughter-in-law, Mike and Beverly Steege of Bay Minette, AL, and her daughter and son-in-law, Linda and Eric Levins of Spanish Fort, AL; her grandchildren, Wesley Steege and his wife Caroline of Vestavia Hills, AL, Olivia Steege of Nashville, TN, Parker Levins Brown and her husband Noah of Ashburn, VA; and her two great-grandchildren, Carter and Stella Steege, who were all the lights of her life. She is also survived by her brother Andrew T. Jacobson “Bozie”of San Antonio, TX and her sisters Sue (Charles) Averitt of Bay Minette, AL, Margaret Schultz “Tootsie” of Lexington Park, MD, JoAnn (Jerry) Wiggins of Bay Minette, AL and Patricia (George) Cabaniss of Mobile, AL. Demp thought of her daughter-in-law in and son-in-law as her children and her sisters-in-law and brothers-in-law as her siblings. She also is survived by numerous nieces and nephews on both sides of her own family and married family that she treasured. She never met a stranger and had many friends who were as close as family to her. She would want to be remembered as a woman who loved her Lord and Savior, her family, her friends and everyone with whom she interacted. 

Demp held several jobs, which included being a wonderful homemaker, serving as a cafeteria worker and being a loving caregiver to the elderly. Her favorite pastime was spending time and traveling with her family, listening to her gospel CD’s and looking at her cookbooks while sitting in her recliner, but she also loved attending church, eating out and thrift shopping with her friends. She loved to cook for her friends at Club Continental and they all loved it. She loved laughter and kept her sense of humor right up until the last day of her life.

The family wishes to extend their special thanks to the doctors, nurses and assistants at Mobile Infirmary and Crowne Healthcare Skilled Nursing Facility. Also, special thanks to Carl and Sylvia Smith for picking up Emma Jean to go to church on Sunday’s. Visitation will be held at Norris Funeral Home on January 16th, 2026 at 1:00 p.m. to 2:30 p.m., with the funeral service to follow at Norris at 2:30 p.m. to 3:00 p.m., officiated by Pastor Randall Short of Lighthouse Tabernacle Church of God. No graveside service will be held at this time. The family will be holding a private burial in the near future. 

In lieu of flowers, the family would ask that monetary donations be made in her honor to Lighthouse Tabernacle Church of God, 54362 Rabun Road, Bay Minette, AL 36507

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