Ms. Joan Ann Stewart

Joan Ann Royster Stewart was born to Will Royster and Annie Thrower Royster on January 19, 1938, in Anne Arundel County, Maryland. She was the seventh of nine children. Her siblings were William (Dickie), Pauline, Rome (Bucky), Linwood (Lennie), Juanita, Shirley, Geraldine, and Don. She attended the Anne Arundel County School System. Joan was a member of Community Baptist Church for many years. She served in many capacities including the Missionary Board, the Hospitality Committee and the Women's Progressive League. She was mother to Ann Taresse, James Antonio, Jansalena, and Venus Lavonne. She married Kenneth B. Stewart in February 1986 and she welcomed his children into the fold and they became a blended family with Rhonda, Anthony, Roxanne and Kenneth, Jr. She was a cook from the heart. There isn't a house in the Pumphrey community that did not experience her hospitality and cuisine. She fed countless who traveled through Maryland down through the years. Her love for others was far reaching. She also loved to go crabbing, playing cards and in her later years she loved to cruise with her family. In her declining days she relied not only on her daughter and son-in-law, Ann and William, but also her grandchildren, Douglas, Ebony, Antresse and Isaiah. Joan is preceded in death by her husband, Kenneth B. Stewart; her parents, Will Royster and Annie Thrower Royster; son, James Antonio; stepdaughter, Roxanne; siblings, William (Dickie), Pauline, Rome (Bucky), Linwood (Lennie), Juanita, and Geraldine. She leaves to cherish her memory, her children Ann Taresse Dockery (William) of Stedman, NC; Jansalena Sutton of Baltimore, MD; Venus Harris (Gary) of Anne Arundel County, MD; Rhonda Oliver of Baltimore, MD; Anthony Stewart of Rockingham, NC; and Kenneth, Jr., of Baltimore, MD; her sister, Shirley Price of Odenton, MD and her brother, Don Royster (Vertie) of Denver, NC; her best friend, Vivian Johnson; a host of grandchildren, great-grandchildren, nieces, nephews, other family and friends. One of her favorite mottos is 'Keep God in Front, You Behind, and All Others Will be Fine, and Let Nothing and No One Turn You Around'