Mary Elizabeth Knight-Stewart, 90, of Rockford, joined the Lord on
Saturday, April 4, 2009 at Tower Hill Healthcare Center. Born on January 16, 1919 in Elizabeth, MS, she was the daughter of Daniel Sr. and Mary Bell (Matthews) Stewart.
She was a former resident of Arkansas and Michigan, and moved to Elgin in 1959 where she has been a member of Second Baptist Church. Mary retired from School District 4-46 Food Services and was a homemaker in her later years. She enjoyed gardening, quilting, watching baseball and fishing.
Mary is preceded in death by her husband of 39 years, Will Stewart, Sr.; son, Will Stewart, Jr.; brother, Daniel Knight, Jr.; sister, Tommie Lee Knight-Brown; and a grandson and great-granddaughter.
She is survived by her four sons, Isaiah (Barbara) Stewart of Elgin, Larry (Carol Gage) Stewart of Covert, MI, LeVone Stewart of Elgin, and Elder Cleatus Dale (Valerie) Stewart of Lansing, MI; five daughters, Dorothy Marshall of Benton Harbor, MI, Evagelist Alma (Elder George) Butler of Benton Harbor, MI, Armor (John) Stahl of Phoenix, AH, Ernestine Stewart (Williams) of Elgin; and Linda (Tyrone) Harris of Rockford; brother, Jessie (Friday) Knight of Springfield, MO; three sisters, Lurenza Knight of Shreveport, LA, Carrie Nickelberry of Apple Valley, CA, and Corine Broadnax of Chicago; thirty-one grandchildren, forty-seven great-grandchildren; thirteen step-grandchildren, and seventeen great great grandchildren; and a host of nephews and nieces.
Visitation will be held on Friday, April 10, 2009 from 4:00 until 8:00 PM at O’Connor – Leetz Funeral Home, Elgin, and on Saturday, April 11, 2009 from 9:00 a.m. until time of Funeral Service at 11:00 a.m. at Second Baptist Church, Elgin. Burial will follow at Bluff City Cemetery. For more information call (847) 741-1400.