HER HONOR CASSELIA LILES STEWART & HER SON J. CLAUD STEWART, II

HER HONOR CASSELIA LILES STEWART

December 7, 1934 – JUNE 28, 2025

J. CLAUD STEWART, II

June 17, 1964 – July 14, 2025

For the perishable must clothe itself with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality. When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will come true: “Death has been swallowed up in victory.”

Where, O death, is your victory?

Where, O death, is your sting?”

The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain. 1 Corinthians 15:53-58.

The Lord called Mommie, Sister Casselia, Aunty Casselia, home from labor to rest at Gulf Coast Medical Center in Fort Myers, Florida, United States of America, on Saturday, June 28, 2025.

Now, it is with another deep sense of loss, but still marveling in the glory of God, that we share the untimely transition of our son, brother, uncle, cousin, Josephus Claudius Mai Liles Stewart II, who found the ultimate favor with the Lord on July 14, 2025.

Mommie, as she was affectionately called by all her children’s friends, dedicated her life in service to the Government of Liberia, her Church, the University of Liberia, and in Matthew 25:35-36 service to mankind. She served as Research Counsel to the Supreme Court, Resident Judge of the Debt Court, Assistant Minister of Justice for Codification, Member of the Technical Committee to the National Constitution Commission that drafted the 1986 Constitution, Executive Director of the Election Commission and later Co-Chairman of the Commission. She also served as Executive Director of the University of Liberia Alumni Association.

In service to the Lord, Mommie was a staunch member of St. Peter’s Lutheran Church, served in various capacities in the parish, and rose to serve on the Executive Council of the Lutheran Church of Liberia. She served as an official of the World YWCA, an Executive Council member of the Lutheran World Federation, and was instrumental in bringing the Lutheran World Federation Global Assembly to Liberia in 1980. She was an outspoken member of the Interfaith Mediation Committee (now Interfaith Council) which mediated between the warring factions during the Civil Conflict from 1990 to 1996.

When she returned to private practice after some twenty-five years of Government service, Cllr. Stewart founded the Stewart & Stewart Law Offices, representing an impressive list of corporate and individual clients. She remained in private practice until she fled the Country in May 1996. She was among nearly 100 lawyers who showed up in support of the late Lutheran Bishop and former Interim Vice President Ronald Diggs who was arrested and charged with treason and was to be arraigned on the day of the outbreak of the April 6, 1996.

She was predeceased by her husband, John W. Stewart, Sr., her parents, Josephus Claudius Mai Liles, Sr. and Catherine J. Washington-Liles, her brothers Sando Barmadea and J.C. Mai Liles, Jr., her sisters, Phebe Uso, Sarah Melton, Charlesetta Reeves, Margaret Traub, Parthena Askie, Charlotte Stewart, and Tidi Stewart, her son Clifton Grove Stewart, and her grandchildren, Michael Slawon and Tufour Tenny.

Her son, Rev. J. Claud Stewart II, transitioned from this life three weeks after her death.

She leaves to glorify God for her life her children, Oveda, Shirley E. Stewart-Allen (Debar), John W., Jr. (Vera), Joanna Davies-Slawon (Michael), , Catherine J. Freeman (Victor), Casselia Stewart-Tenny (Pete), Rev. Ruth Washington-Manneh (Patrick, deceased), and Lydia Washington, her grandchildren Christine, Julius, Johnera, Ahisha, Paynudeh, Debar Winfred II, Michele, Marcus, Marvin, Mizpah, Fred, Pearl, and Ricia, her sisters, Ellen Weizel, Annie Liles, Margaret (Teetar) Stewart, and Maima Stewart, as well as several great-grandchildren nieces, nephews, cousins, and a host of other relatives.

Claud, Uncle Claud to the younger ones in the family, was born on June 17, 1964, attended B.W. Harris Episcopal School from kindergarten through the third grade, when he was sent to St. Peter’s Lutheran School where he continued his primary and secondary education, graduating from the 9^th Grade in 1976. Claud matriculated to the Lutheran Training Institute, was subsequently selected for, and traveled to the United States on the Youth For Christ Student Exchange Program.

Claud was blessed to be welcomed into the family of Thomas (Pop) and Ann Kohler (Mom), both of blessed memory, and their sons, Thomas . Jr. and Steven, when he arrived in the U.S. to attend the Charles W. Baker High School in Baldwinsville New York. Claud was an integral member of the Kohler family throughout his life, and by extension united the Kohler and Stewart families in a way only Claud could make happen. Tom and Ann made no distinction between their three sons.

Claud graduated from high school in 1982 and subsequently attended Susquehanna University and graduated in 1986. He later attended the Philadelphia Lutheran Seminary (now United Lutheran Seminary) and graduated with a Master of Divinity Degree in 1988.

He was an ordained pastor and served as associate pastor at Second Baptist Church, Mumford, New York; Genesee Baptist and Ebenezer Baptist Churches in Rochester, New York, and was a Chaplain in the Spiritual Care Department at Rochester Regional Health’s St. Mary’s Medical Campus. Claud served mankind in many capacities including the Urban League of Rochester, Strong Medical Center, and the Greater Rochester Martin Luther King Jr. Commission.

Claud worked as a job developer with ABVI Goodwill, Recruiter for Genencor International, Corporate Recruiter with HIRE Outsource and Placement Services, Manager of the Career Center at Eastman Kodak Company, Staffing Analyst with Hillside Family of Agencies, Coordinator of Employer Relations at SUNY College at Brockport, Manager of Employment Services with Jewish Family Service, and later opened his own marketing business across the Rochester/Buffalo/Finger Lakes region.

The Lord called Claud from labor to rest at Strong Memorial Hospital in Rochester, New York on July 14, 2025, after a long period of illness.

Claud has one daughter, Ahisha. He was predeceased by his father, John W. Stewart, Sr., and his mother, Casselia Liles Stewart, who predeceased him by only three (3) weeks. In addition to Ahisha, Claud leaves to glorify God for his life, his siblings, Oveda E. Stewart, Shirley E. Stewart-Allen (Debar), John W. Stewart, Jr. (Vera), Joanna Davies-Slawon (Michael), Catherine J. Freeman (Victor), Casselia Stewart-Tenny (Pete), Rev. Ruth Washington-Manneh (Patrick, decesased), and Lydia Washington, his nephews and nieces, Julius, Johnera, Christine, Paynudeh, Debar Winfred II, Michele, Marcus, Marvin, Mizpah, Fred, Pearl, and Richa, his aunts, Ellen Weizel, Annie Liles, Margaret (Teetar) Stewart, and Maima Stewart, as well as numerous cousins, and a host of other relatives.

Final Arrangements for the Late Cllr. Casselia Liles Stewart and her son, J. Claud Stewart II are as follows:

USA Memorial Service:

Saturday, August 23, 2025

Pathways Baptist Church

200 West Diamond Avenue

Gaithersburg MD 20877

Viewing: 9:00 A.M. to 10:00 A.M.

Service: 10:00 A.M.

Live-streaming: https://www.pathwaysbc.org/streaming/watch-live-stream/

Liberia Funeral Service for Cllr. Casselia Liles Stewart:

Saturday September 6, 2025

St. Peter’s Lutheran Church