Sylvester "Joe" Stephens (born 1934/1935 – February 1, 2022) was an American politician who served as the second African-American mayor of Saginaw, Michigan.

[2][1] He served during the 1967 Saginaw riot when the city had its first African-American mayor, Henry G.

[4] During his term, he was able to fully integrate the police force,[4] developed a citizen participation framework where the councilors would hold fact-finding meetings at the city's 25 schools, implemented a city income tax (which was capped in 1979), tore down vacant buildings, and secured federal funding for urban development although he was unable to stem the flow of people to the suburbs.

The city council was unable to decide on his replacement until December 10, 1979, when Paul P. Prudhomme was chosen.

[6] He married his high school sweetheart, Mary C. Stephens; they had two daughters.