Stevan Miller, the bodyguard to the stars and bare-knuckle boxer found dead at his Hinckley home earlier this month, will be buried two days before what would have been his first wedding anniversary. His widow spoke to Alan Thompson.
Stevan Miller's widow Jemma is grateful to her late husband's friends from the worlds of mixed martial arts and bare-knuckle boxing for their kindness after his recent death.
And she is also able to pinpoint what motivated them to offer such support to her family.
"He never took a penny from fighting, he was generous to a fault," she explains.
"He often put money towards people's funerals - his generosity is now coming back to me."
Six foot 7ins "gentle giant" Stevan - who provided protection for a host of A-listers, including Madonna, Rod Stewart, Tina Turner and rapper P Diddy - was found at his home on Sunday, May 13. He was 38.
Since then friends from the fight world have come forward to pick up the bill for his forthcoming funeral in his home village of Burbage.
Jemma has spoken to the Mercury to offer thanks for their generosity.
After meeting four years ago, Stevan became stepfather to Jemma's daughters, Eva, 13, and 12-year-old Lola Ellis.
Stevan mingled comfortably in the high class world of millionaires' playgrounds protecting stars including Will Smith, Lindsay Lohan and singer Justin Bieber.
But Jemma recalls how he treated everyone the same - regardless of their fame or fortune.
"He could speak fluent French and was very, very intelligent, it was one of the things that attracted me about him," she said.
"He knew a lot about wine and food and whoever he spoke to, however famous or wealthy, he would chat to in the same way he would speak to someone who had nothing.
"He never judged anybody and I think that's why the people he protected liked him so much."
Jemma added: "He was always away for about two months in the summer and a month over Christmas.
"Sometimes we would get to go out and join him and I've seen some fantastic places all over the world."
Jemma says she couldn't bear to watch her husband fight when he was bare-knuckle boxing.
"He fought as Stevan 'The Killer' Miller and I remember one bare knuckle bout against Decca Higgins in Leicester which went six rounds," she said.
"When he came home, he was scared for the kids to see him, because his face would be a bit of a mess, but he was a well-respected fighter and even when they've fought one another they're still the best of friends."
She added: "Once he met me and the kids, he turned more to promoting than fighting and set up his Rogue Elite company.
"He never had children of his own, but he loved family life."
Stevan staged his first promoted event at Coventry's Sports Connection venue just two days before he died.
Jemma added: "It attracted 1,500 people and was a massive success.
"He had done shows before with other promoters but this was the first show on his own."
She added: "Steve loved the kids, he was a big kid himself, he was a very sociable person.
"You hear the words 'gentle giant' used about him so many times.
"The times I've had him call me to ask if I can send £50 to someone who's a bit down on his luck."
Jemma, who is carrying on Steve's company and is promoting a second event in his memory in September, added: "We're just about to look for a new house; me and the girls are devastated.
"Steve had always had such a successful career, now, all of a sudden we have no income.
"All his friends have been more than amazing.
"Steve was just so lovely. My daughters' dad passed away, now they've lost another dad.
"Steve was always so good with the girls. When we met he just sort of settled down, he found great joy in them."
She added: "The girls were used to him being away but I think when the funeral comes it will hit them.
"For me, it's getting worse every day, realisation that he's not with us any more is kicking in, but I have two very strong little girls and I just have to keep going.
"It's sink or swim - and I'm a swimmer."
Leicestershire Police say there are no suspicious circumstances surrounding Stevan's death.
A review hearing into his death will be held at Loughborough coroner's court on July 11.
Stevan's funeral will take place on Friday, June 22 at 12.30pm at St Catherine's Church, in Burbage.
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