Stephen Makafui Obeng

Stephen Makafui Obeng, age 12, passed away peacefully in the early hours on Friday January 12, 2024 at the Frederick Health Hospital, Frederick Maryland due to chronic aspiration at night caused by respiratory issues which led to heart failure. He had Severe Cerebral Palsy from birth and was non verbal. Stephen was born to Retired Captain Obeng, Enoch Barima Kwadwo and Monica Esinam Obeng. Stephen was born at the Accra Police Hospital; Accra Ghana as a United States Citizen born abroad and acquired US Citizenship from birth. Stephen was resilient, had impeccable smile and excellent social skills. He always left a remarkable impact on people and ALL his teachers and providers spoke about his great smiles and the lasting impact he left on people. He is survived by his parents (Enoch and Monica) and five siblings: Jemima, Eliana, Nathan, Enoch Jr, and Theresa Obeng. Your memory shall on forever in our hearts and May the Lord receive your innocent soul into paradise. BIOGRAPHY: Stephen Makafui Obeng was born on September 24, 2011 in Accra, Ghana to Retired Captain Obeng Enoch Barima Kwadwo of the Ekuona Abusua (Clan), of Akyem Ayirebi and to Mrs. Monica Esinam Vittor from Aflao, Ghana. Stephen was the First of six children. He had severe cerebral Palsy from birth and acquired US Citizenship from birth. On June 2012, Stephen Joined his father who had taken command of the 66th Forward Support Company, Fort Sill, Oklahoma. He was officially examined and diagnosed of cerebral Palsy by the Department of neurosurgeon, University Of Oklahoma Hospital and begun therapies and treatment plan. Stephen was resilient and showed great potential for learning and acquired excellent social skills throughout his life. To maximize his potential, his father requested to be stationed in South Korea where Stephen was taken to Beijing, China for stem cell trial and traditional Chinese medicine. He returned to South Korea to continue Korean medicine, acupuncture, and other therapies available to him. These therapies and treatments enabled him later on to benefit from use of eye gaze communication device to communicate with friends and family and to learn in school. Because of the potential he showed, his parents saved the stem cells of his siblings in hope that he might benefit from future technological advancement in use of stem cells to treat cerebral Palsy. He returned to Germantown Maryland to begin elementary education in 2014. As a military family member, Stephen travelled throughout America to wherever his father was stationed. He continued his education in Fairfax, Virginia, Upstate new York ( private school), returned to Fairfax Virginia upon his fathers retirement from the military, and finally moved to Frederick Maryland where he attended the Rock Creek School until his demise. Stephen had a great sense of humor and his smiles were infectious. Everyone who met Stephen liked him and there are many educational consultants who took great interest in his education and helped Stephen’s family develop an educational plan for him to achieve his best potential. He was the main attention in the classroom and always looked forward to attending school and using his communication device to say hello to everyone. He loved to watch soccer matches, and his favorite movies were Rush Hour series, Coming to America, and Home Alone. On the morning of Friday, January 12th, 2024, Stephen’s mother went to his room like she had always done to wake him up and get him ready for school but he will not wake up, you had already joined your maker in heaven. Though Stephen is no more counted among the living, his memory shall live on forever in our hearts. We are console by our Lord and Savior’s assurance that anyone who believes in Him, though he dies, but shall live. Your father will forever love you, your Siblings Jemima, Eliana, Nathan, Enoch Jr, Theresa, and your mother all miss you and love you. May the Lord guide your soul to paradise and grant you eternal life in Christ till we meet again at the feet of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Amen. A celebration of life for Stephen will be held Friday, February 9, 2024 at 10:00 AM at Mullins & Thompson Funeral Service, 186 Shelton Shop Rd, Stafford, Virginia 22554. Following the celebration of life will be a burial at 1:00 PM at Quantico National Cemetery, 18424 Joplin Rd, Triangle, Virginia 22172.