Jacqueline Steward

Jacqueline Steward, 88, of Suwanee, GA passed away on Friday, July 5, 2024 . A Memorial Service will be held on Saturday, July 20th, 2024, 1:00 pm at Hopewell Missionary Baptist Church, 182 Hunter St NW, Norcross, GA 30071. A repast will follow immediately at the same location. The family asks that everyone where a touch of purple, as that was Mrs. Jacqueline's favorite color. In remembrance of Minister Jacqueline Stewart's life, memorial contributions to Rainbow Village, flowers, cards, and expressions of sympathy are all welcome. Learn more about how you can make a difference in Ms. Jacqueline's name at https://rainbowvillage.org/ Please express your condolences here on our website. Services entrusted to Gregory B. Levett & Sons Funeral Home, Lawrenceville, 914 Scenic Hwy S, Lawrenceville, GA 30045. Please call 770-338-5558 if you have any questions. Jacqueline Steward, daughter of the late Ethel McCombs and Christopher Reese was born on January 11, 1936. After a lengthy illness, she was summoned to everlasting rest with our Savior and Lord on July 5, 2024. She was preceded in death by her mother Ethel, her father Christopher, two sisters Gwendolyn and Marjorie, and two brothers Roland and Christopher Jr. Those who knew Jacque remember her as a God-fearing and steadfast believer in Jesus Christ. She was compassionate yet feisty. She was highly successful yet humble, dependable, and loved her family fiercely. Her feisty nature would playfully remind people that her shortened name was spelled “Jacque” but sounded like “Jackie”. She was creative in many ways. She was an especially good cook and loved cooking for her family and friends. Her in-law suite kitchen saw more activity in 1 month than the first floor kitchen in the home she shared with her family in a 6-month period of time. Her genuinely caring side was consistently on full display as she advocated for the homeless, sat and prayed for the sick or just provided a shoulder to lean on when needed. Jacque graduated with honors from Calumet High School in Chicago IL. Her family could not afford college so she immediately applied for work securing a clerical position with Johnson & Johnson Corp in Cicero, IL. She later joined the US Post Office. Upon the death of her father whom she cared for during a long illness, she moved to Philadelphia, PA and her life began to change. Jacque enrolled in the Community College of Philadelphia and received an Associate Degree in Business Admin and Accounting. Jacque was an accomplished bookkeeper and accountant during her corporate work career. She could calculate numbers in her head faster than some could enter them into a calculator. She joined Cigna Insurance Corp and continued to excel in her work and later attained a management position. She worked at Cigna until retirement before becoming a thriving entrepreneur at Shanel’s Hallmark and Ashley Avery Collectibles for 10 more years. Together with her daughter, Sharon, she helped turn around two struggling Hallmark stores and won the Retailer of the Year award among 5000 Hallmark competitors. Her leadership at Ashley Avery made it the top Swarovski Crystal sales location in the Southeast, hosting many Special Store Events and Artist Signings. Jacque was known for her creativity, especially in creating silk floral arrangements. As life’s ministry was to help others, she used her influence to obtain valuable products to later auction; raising funds to support AIDS, breast cancer, health screenings, and the Children's Hospital of Atlanta. She was highly respected by her competitors and in the community for her excellent work and the way she treated her customers like family… with love and respect. Jacque dedicated her life to helping others, serving as an Ordained Minister, an Outreach Case Manager at Hopewell Missionary Baptist Church in Norcross, GA and a Certified Chaplain in Georgia. Jacque's Christian education started at Mt. Pleasant Baptist Church in St. Louis MO. Her family later moved to Chicago and became members of St. James AME on 94th Street. When her mother converted to Catholicism when she was 8 years old, it brought about significant changes, including attending Mass and Catechism classes at St Anselm. Despite feeling confused, Jacque obeyed her Mother's decision during this time. When Jacque moved to Philadelphia, as an adult, she joined St. Joseph Baptist Church and converted from Catholicism to the Baptist faith. She was baptized after accepting Christ. Jacque worked with two women from the church, learning about Christ and the Bible. They visited shelters, hospitals, and the streets to help people in need. This sparked her interest in mission work. Jacque also received training in missions and started a lunchtime Bible study at work with the help of her Pastors. Additionally, she participated in meetings with university students, faculty, churches, and homeless individuals to address community problems. In 1994, when Jacque relocated to GA, she visited several churches. She joined Hopewell Missionary Baptist Church in Norcross, GA in 1995 and experienced personal growth under Bishop William L. Sheals. She completed a 4-month biblical study during new member orientation and a 3-year accredited Bible Institute course. Later, she attended a 3-year Bible study on the Holy Spirit and joined the Community Outreach Ministry team in 2005. She would pray with everyone who came for help. Jacque was appointed Director of the newly formed Case Management ministry. She created a mission statement, policies, and procedures for the ministry to help families in the church and community. The ministry offered Christ-centered social services and collaborated with other agencies to assist those in need of essential resources. She was also loved serving in the Shepherd’s Care ministry thru 2007. After Jacque completed a 2-year Master-Life Discipleship course, she became an instructor for this same course. She also taught from 2009 to 2014 in the new member orientation program. Clearly, Jacque developed a love for learning and utilized her spiritual gifts of teaching and serving. In 2008, Jacque answered God's call to join the Ministry to Preach. Her children, work, businesses and even her age had led her to delay answering the Call. She was reminded by an Elder that Moses began his ministry at 80 and Sarah gave birth to Isaac at 100, showing that God's timing is not our timing. Jacque started her training classes in January 2009 and finished in 2012. She gave her first Sermon on July 22, 2012. After a year of ministry, she received her permanent license to preach and minister the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Jacque continued to challenge herself and was asked to accept new responsibilities to begin ministering at the Peregrines Senior Living Center in Norcross. She served on 2nd and 3rd Saturday. She was also asked me to serve as the Pastoral and medical liaison for Hopewell at Gwinnett Medical. This opportunity allowed her to share valuable information with the Hopewell ministries that enabled the Church to better serve the community spiritually and medically. Jacque’s memories will continue to be celebrated by her daughters Jacqueline Antoinette Wright of Philadelphia, PA and Sharon Coghill Perry of Suwanee, GA, her loving granddaughter Brittany Jones of Suwanee, her two handsome grandsons Brian Wright of Orlando, FL. and Glenn Wright of Washington, DC, and her 5 great-grandchildren: precious Raven Jones of Suwanee, and Bre’ond Wright and Sharnika Wright of Philadelphia; Glenn Wright Jr. of Maryland, Talisha King of DC and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.

Tributes

Jacqueline Steward

January 11, 1936 - July 5, 2024