Obituary for Reverend Idonia Stewart (Holifield) Reverend Idonia Stewart (affectionately called Donia) departed this life on Friday, November 16, 2018 at the Beth Abraham Nursing Home Bronx, New York. She was born in Cottondale, Alabama March 31, 1926 to the late Reverend Moses Crawford Holifield and Julia Holifield. As a child she attended school in Cottondale.
Reverend Stewart met and married her late husband Melvin Stewart in Greensboro, Alabama. To this union was born one child Melvin Crawford Stewart. They migrated to New York in 1946.
Reverend Stewart accepted Christ at an early age. Upon arrival in the big city she went and joined the Greater Hood A.M.E. Zion Church under the leadership of the late Dr. Frank E. Churchill. While there, she served as the superintendent of the Buds of promise.
Reverend Stewart relocated with her family to the upper Bronx in 1963 and soon became a member of the Mother Walls A.M.E. Zion Church family under the leadership of the late Reverend LT Brunner. As a faithful member of Mother Walls, she served on the Evangelist Team, Trustee Board, Senior Choir, and was a faithful member of the Sunday School. Under the tutelage of Reverend Brunner she accepted her call to ministry and received her Deacons order and later her elders order.
Reverend Stewart was a hard-working dedicated member and because of this Reverend Brunner would leave the church in her charge while she traveled. In 1972 Reverend Stewart brought Mother Walls to the conference with flying colors, it was this conference that the late Bishop Herbert Bell Shaw appointed her as Pastor of Mother Walls A.M.E. Zion Church. She immediately enrolled in the Manhattan Bible Institute where she received many certificates.
Reverend Stewart work tirelessly to ensure that the church was round in every category. Under her leadership the church grew by leaps and bounds. The church became known as the holy ghost headquarters.
Reverend Stewart traveled the length and breathe of the New York Conference preaching the gospel her motto was “Holiness or Hell”. Reverend Stewart the proud spiritual mother of two daughters and a son in ministry Reverend Wallace Noble, Reverend Linda Ford, Reverend Ruby Bell, not to name countless men and women she encouraged on her journey. She was a devoted servant of God and a lover of people.
Reverend Stewart served faithfully at Mother Walls as pastor for thirty-six years until her retirement in 2006 but still remained active. Upon her retirement Reverend Stewart relocated to New Rochelle where she was in attendance at the St. Catherine A.M.E. Zion Church under the leadership of the Reverend Dr. Michael Rouse. She maintained her membership at Mother Walls.
Reverend Stewart loved her son and family, her grands where the apples of her eye. Any given Sunday after church she would travel to Pennsylvania to be with them. She treated her nieces and nephews like her own children.
She raised Elaine like her daughter who in turn took care of her to the very end. She is preceded in death by her brother, Lee Andrew Holifield; sister, Virginia Thomas; her parents; her grand-daughter, Lovell and husband, Melvin Stewart. Reverend Stewart leaves to cherish her memories her son, Melvin Crawford Stewart of Pennsylvania; her granddaughters, Cheryl Frazier of Pennsylvania, Monica Mendez of Pennsylvania and Shaiane Stewart of Pennsylvania; grandsons, Melvin Stewart of Pennsylvania and Mannie Stewart of Pennsylvania; nine great grand-children; a host of nieces, nephews, other relatives, colleagues and friends.
To send flowers to the family of Reverend Idonia Stewart (Holifield), please visit our Heartfelt Sympathies Store. PRINT Reverend Idonia Stewart (Holifield) March 31, 1926 – November 16, 2018 Share this tribute Funeral Details Condolences & Tributes Photos, Videos & Stories Send Flowers Obituary for Reverend Idonia Stewart (Holifield) Reverend Idonia Stewart (affectionately called Donia) departed this life on Friday, November 16, 2018 at the Beth Abraham Nursing Home Bronx, New York. She was born in Cottondale, Alabama March 31, 1926 to the late Reverend Moses Crawford Holifield and Julia Holifield.
As a child she attended school in Cottondale. Reverend Stewart met and married her late husband Melvin Stewart in Greensboro, Alabama. To this union was born one child Melvin Crawford Stewart.
They migrated to New York in 1946. Reverend Stewart accepted Christ at an early age. Upon arrival in the big city she went and joined the Greater Hood A.M.E. Zion Church under the leadership of the late Dr. Frank E. Churchill.
While there, she served as the superintendent of the Buds of promise. Reverend Stewart relocated with her family to the upper Bronx in 1963 and soon became a member of the Mother Walls A.M.E. Zion Church family under the leadership of the late Reverend LT Brunner. As a faithful member of Mother Walls, she served on the Evangelist Team, Trustee Board, Senior Choir, and was a faithful member of the Sunday School.
Under the tutelage of Reverend Brunner she accepted her call to ministry and received her Deacons order and later her elders order. Reverend Stewart was a hard-working dedicated member and because of this Reverend Brunner would leave the church in her charge while she traveled. In 1972 Reverend Stewart brought Mother Walls to the conference with flying colors, it was this conference that the late Bishop Herbert Bell Shaw appointed her as Pastor of Mother Walls A.M.E. Zion Church.
She immediately enrolled in the Manhattan Bible Institute where she received many certificates. Reverend Stewart work tirelessly to ensure that the church was round in every category. Under her leadership the church grew by leaps and bounds.
The church became known as the holy ghost headquarters. Reverend Stewart traveled the length and breathe of the New York Conference preaching the gospel her motto was “Holiness or Hell”. Reverend Stewart the proud spiritual mother of two daughters and a son in ministry Reverend Wallace Noble, Reverend Linda Ford, Reverend Ruby Bell, not to name countless men and women she encouraged on her journey.
She was a devoted servant of God and a lover of people. Reverend Stewart served faithfully at Mother Walls as pastor for thirty-six years until her retirement in 2006 but still remained active. Upon her retirement Reverend Stewart relocated to New Rochelle where she was in attendance at the St. Catherine A.M.E. Zion Church under the leadership of the Reverend Dr. Michael Rouse.
She maintained her membership at Mother Walls. Reverend Stewart loved her son and family, her grands where the apples of her eye. Any given Sunday after church she would travel to Pennsylvania to be with them.
She treated her nieces and nephews like her own children. She raised Elaine like her daughter who in turn took care of her to the very end. She is preceded in death by her brother, Lee Andrew Holifield; sister, Virginia Thomas; her parents; her grand-daughter, Lovell and husband, Melvin Stewart.
Reverend Stewart leaves to cherish her memories her son, Melvin Crawford Stewart of Pennsylvania; her granddaughters, Cheryl Frazier of Pennsylvania, Monica Mendez of Pennsylvania and Shaiane Stewart of Pennsylvania; grandsons, Melvin Stewart of Pennsylvania and Mannie Stewart of Pennsylvania; nine great grand-children; a host of nieces, nephews, other relatives, colleagues and friends. To send flowers to the family of Reverend Idonia Stewart (Holifield), please visit our Heartfelt Sympathies Store. PRINT Visitation When Wednesday, November 28th, 2018 4:00pm – 7:00pm Location St. Catherine A. M.E. Zion Church Address 19 Lincoln Avenue New Rochelle, NY Text Directions Email Directions View Map Alltel Send Flowers for Reverend Idonia’s visitation Guaranteed delivery before Reverend Idonia’s visitation begins Service Information When Wednesday, November 28th, 2018 7:00pm Location St. Catherine A. M.E. Zion Church Address 19 Lincoln Avenue New Rochelle, NY Text Directions Email Directions View Map Alltel Send Flowers for Reverend Idonia’s Service Interment Information Location Rosehill Cemetery Address Linden, NJ Text Directions Email Directions View Map Alltel Send Flowers for Reverend Idonia’s interment Place a Donation Choose from a Family Preferred Charity or select your own.
Place a Donation Family Log-In The Family Interactive feature enhances An Amazing Life. Authorized family members can securely access their loved one’s memorial website settings at any time. Subscribe to Updates Connect with families at their time of loss.
By subscribing to email updates, you will receive two daily updates containing all new stories, photos, candle lightings, condolences, and more.
If you found any mistakes, or you would like to add/remove to this obituary, please contact us by email: info@obituary.memorial. We never ask money for this.
