Cephas was born in Bladen County, NC around 1915.  He lived in Whiteville, NC as a young man and married Hazel Mitchell. This union was blessed with three children: Cephas Jr, Marilyn, and Donald.

Cephas later moved to the Jacksonville, NC area, where he worked as a commercial fisherman.  Cephas enjoyed mechanic work, as well as farming. Cephas passed away in Wilmington, NC in 1953 at the age of 38.