Mrs. Ethel Ruth Stewart's Obituary
On February 18, 2021, God in Heaven summoned Reverend Wesley Clark, his wife Cinderella, along with their children (Mary, Isaac, Samuel, Esther, James, and Katie). God proclaimed, "I am sending for your beloved Ethel. She is on her way:, The Clark family rejoiced to welcome Ethel home. The family had watched over her as she performed God's work on Earth. They celebrated the opportunity to welcome her into Heavens gates as Ethel was finally there to praise and worship God with them. What a glorious reunion! Ethel grew up in Marion, Mississippi with her parents and alongside her six siblings.
Her parents and older siblings worked in the fields from sunup ("can see") to sundown ("can't see"). Her brother James, who did not even know how to change her diaper,. cared for baby Ethel while everyone else worked the fields. The family had no electricity, running water, or many things seen as lux:uries in those days, but considered necessities today. However, they had the extravagance of love and worship for God. With fervent faith, the family was blessed to buy the farm that was their home. To buy a home during the Great Depression was an amazing feat. Recognizing this family accomplishment, Ethel's dream was to keep the family's property owned by members of the Clark family. Ethel grew up as a Baptist where her mornings began with her father leading a family prayer and calling on each child to recite a Bible verse. Together they praised at several small churches in the surrounding area. Every Sunday, she walked with her family as much as seven miles to share in the worship of the Lord. They were welcomed and familiar faces at revivals in all the local churches. She received her early education at Stevenson High School in Toomsuba, Mississippi. When her parents learned that the class valedictorian was going to be chosen by the staff based on popularity rather than academic performance, her father protested until Ethel was rightfully recognized as the valedictorian. She learned at an early age from her father the possible outcome that one can get from education, perseverance, and strength.
Ethel attended Alcorn State University in Lorman, Mississippi, then she transferred to Lincoln University in Missouri where she earned a BA in sociology with a minor in psychology. In East St. Louis, she joined Pilgrim Baptist Church. She sang in the senior choir from 1960 to 1963. She created the acapella choir for teens and young adults. She had a passion for education and used her talents to teach Sunday School. While in East St. Louis, Ethel met Henry Anthony Stewart. In the presence of God and family, the two married on January 2, 1961. From the union, the Stewarts gave birth to two daughters. The Stewarts' first daughter, Shawne Denise, was born on August 19, 1964. On November 17, 1968, Ethel was widowed upon the untimely death of Henry. The Stewarts' second daughter was born on April 9, 1969. Ethel named her Henri Antoinette-a loving acknowledgment that Henri would not meet her father here on earth. On April 6, 1963, Ethel ·was initiated into Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., Delta Delta Omega Chapter, in East Saint Louis, Illinois. She was a member of the sisterhood for over fifty-seven years and served as chaplain of the chapter from 1988 to 1992. Later, Ethel was hired by School District 189 to teach English at Hughes Quinn Junior High School and then later at Lincoln Senior High School.
Following Christ down a unique path, she lived in Denver, Colorado; Chicago, Illinois; Del Rio, Texas; Meridian and Jackson, Mississippi; and finally, San Antonio, Texas. On her journey she touched the lives of many people with the love of God and the gift of fellowship. While in Denver, Ethel attended Iliff School of Theology where she received a Master of Religious Education degree in Theology. She joined the Ecumenical Institute of Cultural Affairs, The Order, an organization similar to the Peace Corps. It was with the Order that she traveled to Brazil and Africa to help build infrastructure for education and ministries. During this time, she made a sacrifice that could only be sanctioned by God -she gave away all her possessions: home, car, savings accounts, children's education funds, everything -all in the nan;ie of helping others in the US and abroad. Ethel later joined the United Methodist Church and became an ordained minister. She pastored and even fundraised in order to rebuild James Chapel United Methodist Church in Quitman, Mississippi. Ethel went as far as to mortgage some of her property to raise funds to refurbish the church, which included heating, air conditioning, and indoor restrooms. She was devoted to God and the parishioners and was determined to do God's work. When Ethel moved to San Antonio, she joined Travis Park United Methodist Church and served as a lay pastor. While at Travis Park UMC, Ethel volunteered with Corazon Ministries and Cafe Corazon, providing the Word of God, unconditional love, and support to the homeless and marginalized populations. Attending church and showing off her singing family was her pride and joy. In celebration of her seventieth and eightieth birthdays, her nieces and nephews traveled from all over the country to sing their hearts out, celebrate, and worship at her church. Ethel also served as lay pastor and volunteer for San Antonio Clubhouse, a community mental health center that serves adults living with mental illness, the mental health community, and ulti;mately society at large. With all her volunteer work, Ethel still had plenty of time to dote on her pride and joy, her granddaughter Iman Zakaria. She remained active in the United Methodist Church and participated in the Brown Bag Presbyterian weekly Bible study and Baptist HealthLink Water Aerobics. Later, Ethel became an aroun_µ-the clock viewer of CNN, MSNBC, and Al Sharpton. She fell in love with country gospel music and Family Feud, and she enjoyed the virtual Wednesday Bible study and Sunday church services led by Rev. Allen M. Ford of Grace Baptist Church, San Antonio, Texas.
The description of the events of Ethel's life shows that she was a remarkable woman. However, more than the experiences themselves, the essence of Ethel's life was even more extraordinary. Ethel Stewart lived her life showing the love of God. She would give all she had ( and all you had, too) in order to show.;love to someone who needed it. She felt God called her to serve Him and His people, even when that service required a personal sacrifice. Ethel found beauty in a world that was not always kind or easy to her. She accepted mistreatment if she thought it would benefit someone else. Most Christians try to follow the leading of the Holy Spirit and want to live their lives for Christ. Ethel did not try or want-she did. Everything Ethel did-from serving as a minister to baking her mouth-watering cakeswas done to fulfill her calling and to show God's love to those who needed it. She loved to cook and bake. She would frequently bake cakes for loved ones and FedEx them to the recipients no matter where they lived. It is easy to believe that she would be in a conversation with God similar to this. "Okay, God;' she would ask. "Who needs a blessing from You today? I will bake this cake with all Your love so that the one who receives it will feel Your presence. Let me get everything readY:' Who would even think of getting "a homemade cake" in a FedEx box? Ethel was committed to her church and any church that called on her for God's work. At one time, she promised her brother-in-law, Rev. M.R. Lemons, that she would provide enough money for a steeple and cross that would identify Pilgrim Baptist Church. With God's favor and Ethel's fortitude, she kept her word. Ethel has always worked hard. Describing her experience at Lincoln University, Ethel explained she had to work long hours, seven days a week for a family of two professors and their son because she could not afford a meal ticket. She said, "Hard work is just a part of who I am. Give me a chance, and I'll outdo what you think I can do. By working very, very hard, I graduated from Lincoln University in three and a half yiars with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Sociology and a minor in Psychology:' · Ethel lived through adversities valiantly with grace and compassion. Her life can be encapsulated in the words she wrote in her memoir, From Where I Stand, describing her experience speaking at her brother's funeral: "When the Holy Spirit tells you to do something, The Holy Spirit will also tell you what to say and when to say it. Just get busy doing what He has instructed:' Ethel Ruth Clark Stewart was a servant of remarkable faith and courage, and on February 18, 2021, she heard the words all followers of Christ long to hear. "Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master:' Ethel will be lovingly remembered by her daughters: Shawne (Amir) Stewart-Zakaria, San Antonio, Texas; Henri (Dale) Stewart-Thurman, DeKalb, Illinois; granddaughters Iman Zakaria and Grace Thurman; sisters-in-law Dorothy Clark, Creve Coeur, Missouri; Dorothy Witherspoon, San Francisco, California; Leola Freeman, Los Angeles, California; Leonetta Jones, Silver Springs, Maryland; Dorothy Morris, Benicia, California; and Katie Morris, Los Angeles, California; brother-in-law Leon Cole, Daleville, Mississippi; nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends; a devoted caregiver, more like an adopted daughter, Darlene Clements, San Antonio, Texas; AKA Sponsor/Soror and friend Peggy LaComte, Belleville, Illinois; and dear -friend and confidant Eldora Love-Adkins, Fairview Heights, Illinois.
What’s your fondest memory of Ethel?
What’s a lesson you learned from Ethel?
Share a story where Ethel's kindness touched your heart.
Describe a day with Ethel you’ll never forget.
How did Ethel make you smile?
