Steph Williford

Stephanie Ann Miller Williford stepped into Glory and met her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, on Friday, February 11, 2022.

She would want this obituary to be accompanied by glitter and confetti, because we all know she brought the sparkle. She didn’t just light up the room – she made the room glow with her joyful spirit, infectious laugh, and world-changing hugs.

Her life verse was Acts 20:24: “However, I consider my life worth nothing to me; my only aim is to finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me – the task of testifying to the good news of God’s grace.”

Steph was born on January 4, 1984, to Tom and Debbie Miller in Plano, Texas. She graduated from Plano West Senior High School in 2002 and later graduated from Samford University in Birmingham, Alabama, with a degree in religion in 2006.

During high school, she was an active member of the Prestonwood Baptist Church Student Ministry and loved attending mission trips and beach camps every summer. She accepted Christ as her personal Lord and Savior in October of 1998 and was baptized alongside her family on April 18, 1999, which was the last Sunday at the former Prestonwood campus on Hillcrest Road. At Freedom Weekend on January 27, 2001, in a moment of divine clarity and peace, Steph committed her life to ministry and never looked back.

For the following two decades at Prestonwood, she was the hands and feet of Jesus for preteens and teenagers from all walks of life. Specifically, her whole heart belonged to the Girls’ Ministry. It was her soul’s calling to point everyone to Jesus at every big or small opportunity. Whether it was hosting epic events for thousands or attending high school football games just to see one of her girls do a three-minute dance number, Steph was intentional about the way she loved her people.

Those who knew Steph would agree she was the epitome of JOY. She was everyone’s cheerleader and always found a reason to turn any negative into a positive and any meeting into a party. On any given day, you could find Steph wearing glitter, tulle, or animal print, and she always had a spare set of supplies for every possible situation. The party didn’t truly start until Steph arrived. Imagine the party she’s experiencing today!

Steph and Bryan Williford were dear friends for many years and later married in May of 2018 in Rosemary Beach, Florida, with their close friends and family. They loved to serve on mission trips around the world and have fun dates at new restaurants and the movies. Even on her last day, she was marveling at how blessed she was to have Bryan as her husband.

Throughout her life, she was immeasurably blessed by her friends. Whether you were friends with her for a season or a lifetime, your life was changed because of Steph’s presence in it.

If you knew Steph for more than five minutes, you’d hear her talk about her “Mama Miller” (mother) and “Mak Attack” (sister McKenzie). They were the loves of her life and made her laugh more than anyone else in the world. It was her honor and joy to love them.

Steph is survived by her devoted husband, Bryan Williford; mother, Debbie Miller; sister, McKenzie Lacy and brother-in-law, Thomas Lacy; mother-in-law, Sandra Williford; and her beloved aunts, uncles, cousins and “nieces and nephews” belonging to her best friends. Steph was preceded in death by her father, Tom Miller; and her grandparents, Delois and Dan Deakins, and Joyce and Duane Miller.

There will be a memorial service to celebrate Steph on Friday, February 18, 2022 at 10:00 a.m. at Prestonwood Baptist Church, 6801 W. Park Blvd., Plano, Texas 75093, with Dr. Jack Graham officiating.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in memory of Steph to The Stephanie Williford Student Camp Scholarship Endowment through Prestonwood Baptist Church, 6801 W. Park Blvd., Plano, Texas 75093. https://ppay.co/DBDDV_DqO3I