On April 30, 2021, Maleka C. Stephens lost her two-year battle with cancer. In her honor, her husband established the Maleka C. Stephens Foundation to carry on her legacy and the charitable efforts she dedicated herself to throughout her life. Maleka was born and raised in Queens, NY. From a young age, she developed a passion for numbers, which led her to earn a degree in Accounting from SUNY Old Westbury. After graduating, she worked for 10 years as a corporate accountant. During her career, she was deeply committed to educating young African American students about the accounting profession and mentoring Black professionals within the corporate space. ​Her charitable spirit was rooted in her lifelong membership at Salem Missionary Baptist Church. From childhood, she eagerly took on responsibilities to support the church’s operations. As an adult, she served on the Board of Trustees and managed the church’s financial affairs. She was also the financial officer for the Mary McLeod Bethune Educational Council, which provides monthly stipends to college students in the congregation. Maleka took great pride in ensuring students received the financial support they needed for college living expenses. ​While attending SUNY Old Westbury, Maleka met her husband and life partner of 29 years, Gary Stephens. Together, they co-founded SMG Consulting Group. Maleka’s legacy lives on through this work—uplifting others and investing in a better future.