Dedication in Memory of the Late Chairman of SC Cause Mr Curtis Augustus Stewart Sunrise April 1958 - Sunset April 2017 I was fortunate to have shared a very loyal friendship for many years with our brother Curtis. Not only was he my friend, but also my confidant & community business partner. Too me Curtis was more like …‘That Text Book Old School Older Brother’ who’s character was naturally and forever Caring, Always Helpful and very Protective. We were complete opposites in character, yet we shared the same deep-rooted values, and this was why we connected so quickly and so deeply. Over the years we shared many experiences, for instance… our love for our community, visiting different countries to experience the diverse cultures and also being a positive influence to those that need a voice of support was how we really connected. We laughed a lot, especially at things other people didn't find remotely funny, I could go on for hours talking about the kind person that Curtis was but, I think that most of us here already know this fact. We met ten years ago where we both worked in the sales department for a health company, I am also a community volunteer and home business builder, so never really had to deal with a boss, Curtis came from a corporate background and did everything professionally and BACK THEN by the book. One day the bigwigs from our head-office in America came to visit our office in Barnet to advise how we could improve our personal sales, “If you want to improve your performance ask to shadow someone you believe to be effective with their sales figures”, was the advice from the bigwigs; Curtis asked if he could shadow me and I agreed. Our work sometimes took us on long car journeys and it was during these times that we really got to know each other. No subject was off limits we both knew that we could speak it, no matter how Deep….and that what we spoke of would remain safe. This led to our business partnership which came about organically, Curtis was impressed with the community works I am involved with and decided to join our Healthy Living Community Organisation in 2009. As a man from a corporate straight-laced background; community work was very new to Curtis, but he was dedicated and worked hard and with true passion. So impressed was the community with whom Curtis volunteered his time that he was nominated and voted in by popular demand as the Chairperson of the Enfield Sickle Cell Support Group in January of 2013 all this took place soon after he had suffered his first life changing Stroke… and he served in this role until December 2014. When I decided to create a new Advocacy & Action Group in January 2015 Curtis was the first person to volunteer his services and chose the role as group Treasurer…. he served the full term of this position without fault for that year, earning deserved recognition as the first recipient of the groups prestigious ‘Dr Neville Clare OSCAR Trophy’ in recognition of his dedicated community work within the Sickle Cell Support Arena. At our second Annual General Meeting in January of 2016 Curtis was again nominated for the role of Chair and was unanimously voted in to serve as the Chairperson of the Sickle Cell Care, Advocacy, Unity with Support and Empathy Group, otherwise known as SC Cause, whereas he served faithfully and again with full dedication up until the day he departed.
Therefore, it is without a doubt and fair to say that it’s understandable why our entire community is grieving, we have lost a King, a true Gentleman, a Giver, a person of high integrity and deep humility, a real friend, the rarest of uncut diamonds, a man whose moral compass default setting was set naturally at the maximum level. Finally, Going back in time a bit, I’d like it known that In 2011 after following the Health structure of another friend of his, Ms Freda Gaisie from Eden Retreats, we started the HEPS Program, HEPS is short for the Health Enhancement Project Spain, whereas we took groups of people to rural Spain on a holistic Raw Food & detoxification program, this project proved very popular especially amongst the sickle cell community and those with other health issues. However, as we became more awakened and in tune with who we are culturally we decided to take the HEPS Program to Africa. After visiting the Gambia with the group, Angela Graham Associates, known as (AGA) in 2015, we were able to set up the initial steps to create this project and set the foundations in place. The intention of Curtis, Leanne Palmer and I (as partners of Healthy Living International), was to go back in October of 2017, where we have meetings set up and are expected to finalise the foundations of the HEPA project, A project Leanne and I didn't envision building without Curtis; however, after speaking with the management committee of Healthy Living International it was unanimously decided that we will continue building this project in Africa, However, instead of calling it HEPA which is an acronym of the Health Enhancement Project Africa, we are more inclined to have Curtis’s name marked and remembered in the UK as well as in our Mother Land, where he expressed love of the land and people and planned to relocate. And so with the approval of Curtis’s beloved widower Mrs Noelita and family; In his honour the Healthy Living Team has decided to completely rename the upcoming HEPA Project and hope every person on the committee of SC Cause and the staff of Healthy Living International will take the time to visit when we are up and running as the first official guests at the official opening and naming ceremony in honour of Curtis.
And finally, it gives me honour to announce that from this day forward The HEPA Program will be known as: 'The Curtis Stewart Holistic Detoxification Health Centre'. May our brother continue to Rise in Power!!!
Eulogy written and read by Samantha Greaves On 26th May 2017 At the Funeral of Curtis Augustus Stewart In Loyal Dedication and continued Remembrance.