Stephen James Provost

Stephen James Provost, 85, of Burlington, NC passed away peacefully on Monday, February 9, 2026 at the Twin Lakes Retirement Community. He was born on May 12, 1940 in Hartford, CT. He graduated from Saint Anselm College in Manchester NH with a BA in Philosophy after attending Manchester High School in Manchester CT.

Steve spent a career working in the textiles industry, starting off fresh out of college with Burlington Industries in the 1960’s. He spent the ‘70’s in various executive sales roles with Russell Hosiery Mills in NC where he fell in love with the people, the warmer winters and the “Carolina pace”. He became the founder and president of Amherst Hosiery Inc. and spent the ‘80’s focused mostly on the manufacturing end of the business at their plant in Biscoe, NC. Along the way, it was the people that he worked with that made it all worthwhile and fun for him: He valued all of his industry connections and they seemed to love him back for it. After retiring, he was a starter at Grandover Resort in Greensboro where he helped “move play forward” by getting golfers to their first tee box on time with a smile and friendly greeting.

He loved his three children, Motown, the Boston Red Sox and the Celtics. Golf was his #1 favorite pastime and he savored (and was grateful for) his five trips to Augusta National during Masters week with his sons. Besides Fenway Park and the beaches of Rhode Island, it was his favorite happy place.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Hector and Catherine Provost of Manchester, CT, older brother Robert Provost of Greenville, SC and his wife, Lorrie, as well as the recent sudden death of his son Michael Provost (USMC) of Buford, GA.

He is survived by his son Jeff S. Provost (Traci) of Branford CT and daughter Catherine C. Provost of Bethlehem, PA as well as his ex-wife, Barbara Jylkka Provost of Greensboro NC. Other Provost family survivors include his brother Richard Provost (Pat) of Cromwell, CT; and four grandsons; Alexander, Trevor, Dominic and Drew. Unfortunately, years of progressive dementia robbed him of the opportunity to know and spend time with his four great grandchildren; Thayer, Presley, Cal and Gus. He would have loved them too.

Memorial service details will be made and announced at a later date.