Mrs. Velma Stewart of Yulee Florida passed away on Monday morning, August 15, 2016 at Baptist Medical Center, Jacksonville Florida.
She was born in Pensacola Florida on November 14, 1947. She was the daughter of the late Fannie Mary Carter Stewart and Elvin Hooper Sr. She attended various schools in the Escambia County area. She later moved to Amelia City, Florida where she met and married the late Willie Stewart Jr. and they had 10 children and 3 adopted children. She was very active in their lives. Especially when it came down to football season. She was known as the team mom because she went above and beyond for the entire team. Just when you thought things couldn't get any better, she made sure that her daughters learned to cook and maintain the household in which was a tool that was later put to test to see if they were paying attention. She also made sure that her children had the best of everything even if it meant that she went without. Family meant everything to her no matter what role they played in her life. They always say an apple doesn't fall to far from the tree because she inherited a trait from her mom which was feeding a person if they was hungry or giving them a place to stay if they were in need. Velma was one of the most sweetest people that you could have ever known and a piece of her live on in each one of her children. There are no words to express how much she loved her grandchildren and great-grandchildren other than to say that she cherished the time that she spent with them.
She is preceded in death by her parents, Fannie Mary Carter Stewart and Elvin Hooper Sr., her husband Willie Stewart Jr., her granddaughter Errica Waye, five sisters; Michelle Blackmon, Priscilla Hooper, Joann Hooper, Francis Hooper and Mary Theresa Hooper, two brothers; Frank Stewart Jr. and Spencer Stewart, grandparents; Rainey Rushing and Nathaniel Carter Sr. and other relatives.
She leaves to cherish her memories six daughters; Nodia Stewart of Jacksonville FL, Willene Beverly ( Michael ) of Woodbine GA, Cynthia Oliver (Tony) of Pelham GA, Tammie Yearwood (Vernon) of Yulee FL, Felicia Stewart of Fernandina Beach FL and Yolanda Stewart of Columbia SC. four sons; Stacy Stewart (Femarcel) of Yulee FL, DeMarcus Stewart of Fernandina Beach FL, Terrell Stewart (Christina) of Yulee FL and Travis Stewart ( Shannon ) of Jacksonville FL. three adopted children; Tonya Hooper, Rodell Gilles both of Jacksonville FL and Joe Strawn (Amy) of Punta Gorda. twenty-six grand children, fifteen great-grand children, three God children; Lizzie Gray of Sandhill FL , Shonda Holmes of Atlanta GA and Tara Thomas of Fernandina Beach FL, seven sisters; Linda Hooper Johnson (Namon) of Fernandina Beach FL, Corrie Hooper Boatwright, Elane Stewart Amos (Ronnie), Josephine Stewart Williams (Earl), Lorraine Stewart Williams (Don) all of Jacksonville FL, and Betty Hooper and Faye Hooper both of Lake City FL. five brothers; Michael Hooper, Charles Hooper (Shelia), LaTodd Stewart, Herbert Stewart (Cynthia) all of Jacksonville FL and Elvin Hooper Jr. (Dorothy ) of Fernandina Beach FL. one aunt; Mamie Carter of Pensacola FL; one sister-in-law; Phyllis Ray of Fernandina Beach FL, two brother-in-laws; Kenneth Swackard of Fernandina Beach FL and Quentin Stewart (Tabatha) of Jacksonville FL, God brother; Andrew Collins (Debbie) of Marietta GA, devoted friends; Bernice Walker of Yulee FL, Laura Young of Columbia SC and a host of nieces and nephews and other extended relatives and friends.
Mrs. Stewart will be laid to rest beside her husband in Bosque Bello Cemetery.