Sunrise
January 31, 1946
Sunset
May 11, 2021
Minnie Mae Stewart was born Jan. 31, 1946 in Clarksdale, MS. She was the daughter of the late Essie Mae and James Davis. She was one of nine children. Minnie was a pioneer in her family and community. Minnie attended Higgins High School where she was proud to serve as the lead Majorette. She married R.L. Stewart and together they raised eight children. In 1968 the family relocated to Aurora, IL where she began her working career at Caterpillar, Venture Stores and Central Cleaners. During this time, she became a member of Christ Temple Church in Joliet, where she was baptized in the Name of Jesus Christ and filled with the Holy Ghost. She was a strong believer in serving the Lord and her church. Minnie loved to sing and share her beautiful soprano voice; she was known for her powerful selection of “He Would Not Come Down From the Cross.” As an active church member, Minnie was the head of the Nursery Board and served on numerous committees, including the Usher Board, Mothers Board, Sisterhood, Missionary Board, and the Choir. Minnie was a rare jewel who was known for helping anyone with a need. Providing warm meals and financial donations, a place to live or just lending an ear. She took a special interest in children by taking on the Toys for Tots program for many years. Minnie departed this life after a lingering illness on Tuesday May 11, 2021. She was proceeded in death by her husband R.L. (Pete) Stewart and her parents Essie Mae and James Davis, (Sister’s) Hattie Calloway, Bessie Hill, Ora Lee Logan, (Nephews) Clifton, Curtis, Michael Davis and Carlos Ray, and (Niece) Sharon Hill. Minnie leaves to cherish her memories – 8 children; Nikila (Kelvin) McMillian of Atlanta GA, Angelia (Fred) Collier, Tony (Donna) Davis of Aurora IL, Bentia Stewart of Matteson IL, Christopher Stewart of Atlanta GA, Kahelia aka Keshia Stewart of Aurora IL, Roderick (Heather) Stewart of Matthews NC, Brandon (Amanda) Stewart of Aurora. Her grand-children Dawayne (Antonia) Foster, Shanikia (Jason) Bolton, Mark (Vashia) Foster Jr all of GA, Aikista Davis, Carolyn Prater, Michael Davis, Ty (KC) Davis, Deonte (Brenda) Davis, Tony Lamar Underhile, Nicolas (Evelyn) Davis, Robert Davis, Kiyaunna Stewart, Devin Rucker, Kayla Stewart, Quamarious, Kamarie, Reven Stewart, Malik Stewart, Sidious Stewart, and her 20 great grandchildren. Surviving Siblings Bettye (Joe Willie) McCray of Chicago, IL, Louise (Lee Henry) Ray of Aurora IL, Dorothy (Greg) Robinson of Grand Rapids, MI, Lee Ethel Harris of Memphis TN, Eugene Davis Jr and Joseph Davis of Grand Rapids, MI and God Sister Mary Hobson Memphis, TN. Minnie had many special loves in her life with honorable mentions of her God Children Brenda Bolden, Andrew Williams, Raymond Kleinfelt, Kenyon Robinson, Dion Phillips and honorary grandchildren Jazmine Diaz, Tatiana Robinson, Mariah Robinson, Kierra Daniels, Caitlyn Williams, and longtime friends Phyllis Webster, Tina Felix, Sis Joann Jackson, Sis Daise, and Elder James Cooper.
Order
OF SERVICE
Saturday May 22, 2021
Visitation - 10:00 A.M | Service - 11:00 am
Safely Home, At Last!
Christ Temple Church 212 Richards Street Joliet, IL 60433 Bishop J. E. Moore, Pastor
I am home in Heaven, dear ones,
PRELUDE CTC Choir
In this everlasting light!
PROCESSIONAL CTC Choir MASTER OF SERVICE/PRAYER Evangelist Jamye Moore-Berry SOLO SELECTION Evangelist Elaine Robinson SCRIPTURE OF OLD TESTAMENT Perry L Benson Jr. SCRIPTURE OF NEW TESTAMENT Elder Veodies Isom PRAYER OF COMFORT Elder James Cooper SOLO SELECTION Chris Huggins
“Safely Home”
WORDS OF EXPRESSION Family and Friends READING OF THE OBITUARY Evangelist Connie Isom EULOGY Bishop J.E. Moore RECESSIONAL CTC Choir
Oh, so happy and so bright! There is perfect joy and beauty
All the pain and grief is over, Every restless tossing passed, I am now at peace forever, Safely Home in Heaven at last. And He came himself to greet me In that way so hard to tread; And with Jesus’ arms to lean on, Could I have one doubt or dread? Then you must not grieve so sorely For I love you dearly still; Try to look beyond Earth’s shadows, Pray to trust our Father’s Will. When your work is all completed He will gently call you Home; Oh, the rapture of that meeting Oh, the joy to see you come.
Tributes To Mama Stewart
2 Corinthians 5:8 “We are confident, I say and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.” My Friend, my traveling buddy, my sweet Mama Stewart, I know you are gone on the be with our Lord. It hurts me so much to know I cannot pick up the phone and call you or we ride home from church together. You accepted me as one of your own children, you loved me and Caitlyn beyond words. We will miss you so much, I will never forget our laughs, late night talks until you fall asleep on me. Rest on Mama, until we meet again. I will Always love my girl (Minnie Lou) - Caitlyn and Tina My Dear Friend, you were such a loving woman, your kindness was like no other. You would give the coat off your back for someone in need. I will miss our long conversations on the phone, our rides to service on Sundays, and the trips to the meat markets. You have won your race my friend, Rest well now in the arms of our Lord. - Sis Rebi I’ve known you all my life and I’ve loved you all my life. I’m going to miss your loving beautiful smile, cheek kisses, and those soft sweet “hey Bren Bren” whenever I saw you. All we have now is the memories, so many good memories too, running up and down Oakview Street, racing and jumping rope, those long talks at the cleaners when’s you should have been working, the way you slip money in my hand or purse when nobody was watching. Minnie you were the best God Mommy. Lately I just regret not doing more, calling you more, visiting you more, texting you more, talking on the phone longer, I’m really going to miss you. But the one thing I know for sure is that you were so special to me and I was so special to you, I know you loved me... you told me all the time. Rest in Jesus. - Brenda Bolden These words I write for Minnie are out of nothing but the same love and respect and kindness that I have always received from her. I met Minnie years ago before her husband Pete passed away when we were neighbors on Oakview in Aurora. At that time; I was friends with her son Chris. I ended up meeting the rest of the Minnie’s family. After I met the rest of the family, we became family. That was a time in my life when I was not sure how things would turn out, I did not know where I was headed; faced a lot of adversity for a long time. I ended up getting close with Minnie and she became someone I trusted and knew I could go to for support. Minnie always had a way of listening to you; letting you say whatever was needed to get things off your chest and clear your mind. She always did with a smile on her face and never turned me away. It was because of Minnie that I got through some of the darkest days of my life. I mean that, literally. There were times when I needed to talk about things, I would not talk about with anyone else. I always knew I could tell Minnie and she would not judge me, no matter what it was I talked to her about. Minnie always treated me like a son. She helped me raise my daughters, who grew up with Minnie’s grandkids like they were her own. I will never be able to repay Minnie for what she has done for me and my children and for that I have always done whatever I could, helped in any way I could when she needed because she always done the same for me. I will never forget her, never forget the strength she had, the strength she gave me, the love she gave me. I will always be here for her family and I will miss her dearly. We lost a true kind soul who always looked out for anyone and everyone she could and never asking for anything in return, so much so she forgot
to do for herself sometimes. I would remind her that she needed to do that sometimes and she would just smile and nod her head and say “OK”. I would call Minnie often, visit her often, even if it were just to say hi and let her know I will be back soon. Minnie became a huge part of my life; a stabilizing force in my life. I, like everyone else loved Ms. Minnie, and will always remember the things she has done for me. Rest in Peace Minnie; we love you. - Keyon
My sweet sister, my friend,
There are so many memories I have of you and I will miss them all, your beautiful smile, your chili cheese sandwiches on Sunday mornings after Sunday School, and the sherbet ice cream cones after church service. Your faithfulness to the Nursery Board, singing in the choir, and always ready to sing a solo when asked. You helped me with whatever I needed help with. Donated to our Deaconess Scholarship Fund, every year. Always lending a helping hand, even after your health had started to fail. There are so many things that I will miss about you but most of all, I will miss our long phone conversations, and sitting in your driveway talking about the goodness of Jesus. Always believing that you would be healed, and you were going to be alright. Well sis you are alright now, resting in the arms of Jesus ... - Love your sister and friend Sis. Penny Stewart
Grandmother
God looked around his garden and found and empty space Then He looked down upon this Earth and saw your tired face; He put his arms around you and lifted you to rest. God’s garden must be beautiful; He only takes the best. We will miss you Grandma, Rest well
Mother Dearest,
You have played so many roles in our lives; a protector, provider, humanitarian, a teacher, a nurturer, our cheerleader, our doctor, disciplinarian, a counselor and our cook. But the most important role that that you played was just our MOM. We will never be able to express enough gratitude that we have with us being able to say that Minnie Mae Stewart was OUR MOM. She was Mom to so many because she did it very well. If you asked us; we each would say that we were her favorite but truth be told she loved us all the same. She just knew how to love you the way you needed to be loved, sometimes that meant giving a little extra love and other times it meant giving tough love but no matter what you felt her loved. That is why when your children saw that you were hurting; we each tried to give you the love that you deserved that the bucket overflowed and we struggled to keep the overflow in. Your children are still learning your lessons of kindness and forgiveness but we will get it together because you were the best example we could have seen. During this time, it warmed our hearts that you touched so many lives with your love and kindness and that you meant so much to so many. Our hearts know that you are no longer hurting and that you are singing and dancing with our Lord. “HE DECIDED IT TO DIE; AT THE CROSS; JUST TO SAVE ME” has never had a more meaningful meaning. Rest on Mother …..the kids are ok.
Interment
Spring Lake Cemetery 745 S. Lincoln Avenue | Aurora, IL 60505 Following the Service
Dawayne Foster Tyrone Davis Michael Davis
Pallbearers
Kenyon Robinson
Mark Foster, Jr. Deonte Davis Devin Rucker
Honorary Pallbearers
Tony Davis Brandon Stewart
Roderick Stewart Chris Stewart
Flower Attendants
Shanikia Bolton Carolyn Prater
Kayla Stewart
Aikista Davis Kiyaunna Stewart
Repast
Prisco Community Center (Rm 103) 150 W. Illinois Avenue | Aurora, IL 60506 2:00pm to 5:30pm
Words of Appreciation
The family of the late Minnie Mae Stewart acknowledges with sincere appreciation the comforting messages, floral tributes, cards and other expressions of kindness during this time of bereavement. May God Bless and Keep You.