Submitted by: Dan Rich

Willie Mae Stewart

Jan. 18, 1903 - Aug. 27, 2002

South Bend Tribune 8/30/2002

Willie Mae Stewart, 99, of South Bend, Ind., passed away at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, Aug. 27, in her home. She was born on Jan. 18, 1903, in Hernando, Miss., to the union of William W. Oliver and Mary White Oliver, who preceded her in death. In 1921 she married Benjamin Franklin Stewart, who also preceded her in death. To their union were born four children, Benjamin Vernon Stewart (Mary) of New Jersey, William "Bill" Stewart (Elaine) of South Bend, who preceded her in death, Paul R. Stewart (Della) of South Carolina and Wilma A. Stewart-Grazier of South Bend. Coming to South Bend in 1925, Mrs. Stewart and her family took fellowship at Olivet AME Church on Monroe Street and in the late fifties, First United Methodist Church on Main Street. Her sincere nature and easy smile enabled her to become the first black president of the Perley School PTA and participate in state-wide PTA programs at the French Lick, Ind., conference around 1949. She attended local meetings in South Bend on open housing for the South Bend Community in the early 1950s.

Mrs. Stewart was an accomplished musician who had a lovely, trained voice. She appeared in many productions of operettas put on by the Burleigh Association and sang leading parts as a lyric soprano. She also gave many solo concerts around the community and northern Indiana area. She was an avid bridge player in South Bend and in Chicago. She also opened her house and her energies to help anyone in need. In 1965 she moved to Chicago to live with her daughter, and they returned to South Bend in 2000. She is survived by three living children and her daughter-in- law, Elaine Stewart of South Bend. She was the matriarch of six generations, including 11 grandchildren, 21 great-grandchildren, 51 great-great-grandchildren and one great-great-great-grandchild. She will be greatly missed by a host of other relatives and friends.

Services for Mrs. Willie Mae Stewart will be held on Saturday, Aug. 31, in Bethlehem Baptist Church, 24393 Filmore Road, South Bend. Funeral services will begin at 1 p.m. with Rev. Hardy N. Petty officiating. Burial will be at Highland Cemetery. The Clark-O'Neal Funeral Home has been entrusted with funeral arrangements.