Steven Eric Cottman

Steven Eric Cottman was born on April 7th, 1963 in Baltimore, MD. He was the youngest of five kids born to the late, Katie Lee Phifer-Cottman with Thomas Henry Cottman & Boston Summers also preceding him in death. As a late baby-boomer, (1945-1965) Steven was born just eight months before the assassination of the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. & Senator Robert F. Kennedy. Steven aka "Clayton" by his buddies, was educate in the Baltimore City Public School System with a very brief enrollment of Baltimore Junior Academy, (a Seventh-Day Adventist Parochial School) by his big brother, Earl in 1979. He would later search hard in finding where he thought was the best fit for him. Can you picture Clayton selling Kirby Vacuum Cleaners? Well evidently, he couldn't see it either, that is why he didn't last very long. A saleman he wasn't. However, he was an excellent barber. He was pretty generous, providing free haircuts to kids returning back to school and to his buddies who were down on their luck. Stevie loved his Ravens, enjoyed debating his pals and playing chess. And if you ever shook his hand and forgot to remove your ring, you wouldn't forget again. His alligator clamp put a new meaning to what we know as "the firm grip." Clayton went on in an attempt to defeat life's challenges with women like Terri Robinson, Jackie Hamlin and Bernadette Cross taking that journey as far as they could go with him. With all of his ups and downs, trials and tribulations, he would eventually find Christ, his Savior and Redeemer. Later, he would admit to his big sister and brother, Mikki and Bumpsey, his inner most demons of regrets. As if cleansing his soul by expressing to them the greatest of those regrets which was not being as close to his son and daughter, Mari and Kieara (Kiki) as he could've or should've been. And that he'd humbly asked their forgiveness for casting any doubt they may have harvested regarding his fatherly feelings towards them. Even though it was quite difficult for him in his early years to express his feelings, they knew deep down that their Dad loved them. Thank GOD that both Mari and Kiki gave him the opportunity to make amends and express his love for them. Each of them had spent precious, intimate time with their Dad, time that had proven to be healing beyond imagination. Stevie, giving and receiving compassion to and from his kids, had made a world of difference. And they would openly and honestly express their true feelings of love and forgiveness with him before he would finally close those beautiful green eyes. Those eyes they would both carry and pass on as a constant reminder, that their Dad lives on into the next generations. So from Stevie's favorite toy panda bear, "Bobo" to his pet dogs and other worldly possessions that have loss their meaning; but gave him joy, have now been reduced to memories. But what is so very important, is the fact that prior to his physical departure, he'd renounced Satan and channeled his soul and spirit to the possession of his Maker, knowing that the time was near. On April 7th, Fox-45's Traffic Jam Jimmy (TJJ) gave Steven a 59th B'day shout out on his morning segment. And that pleased him very much! Clayton would've wanted to give a nod to his boyz who slid out before him and who now awaits his place at the table. "So, a toast for the Guys who ain't here now more" he would say like Mark "Blu" Hammock, Billy "Bam" Collins, Eric Truesdale and Warren "Mousie" Smith. Steven leaves to cherish his memory; his son, Mari Robinson-Cottman; his daugher, Kieara F. Cottman; two grandchildren, Cameron and Johanna Cottman; one brother, Senior Special Agen, (Ret.) Earl S. Phifer-Cottman; one sister, Michele T. Cottman-Macklin; six nieces, Evelyn Marie Cottman, Nicole Denise Cottman-Hughes, Aiesha S. Cottman, Michele K. Johnson-Cottman, Alayna Renee Shaw-Cottman and Aiyanne S. Johnson; six nephews, Antwan T. Cottman, Aaron Q. Johnson-Macklin, Abdul T. Macklin, Gabriel M. Shaw-Cottman, Ernest L. Voight-Cottman and Bennecio T. Johnson; one true friend and moral compass, Marvin Jackson; with many other relatives and friends to meet with him at a later date and time.

Tributes

Steven Eric Cottman

April 7, 1963 - September 30, 2022