Pearl Steward

Wednesday, March 5, 2014
Lie In State: 10:00 A.M. – 11:00 A.M.
Family Visitation: 11:00 A.M. – 12:00 Noon
Funeral Service: 12:00 Noon

Franklin Road Church of Christ
3700 Franklin Road
Murfreesboro, Tennessee 37128

Interment
Hoover Cemetery
282 Claude Wilcher Rd
Woodbury, Tennessee

Pearl Steward also known as “Dear” was born on March 25, 1915 to Hilton and Cleopatra Steward in Woodbury, Tennessee. She had an older sister, the late Lillian Glimps and a younger brother, the late Charlie Steward. She was also preceded in death by her grandchild, James Pinkerton. She was 3 years old when her mother passed. Her formative years were spent in Woodbury and when she could, she attended the Woodbury Public Schools. Pearl’s father was a cook who taught his trade to his daughters. She mastered this skill and it became the means by which she provided for her only child, Virginia, and for herself throughout her life. Pearl worked for over 30 years for the Lutz family in Detroit. Jill Lutz became a very close and lifelong friend.

When Virginia was a young teen, she told her mother about the church of Christ. Pearl became a member of the church through her daughter’s teaching, attending the East Water Street congregation until she moved to Detroit, Michigan in the 1950’s. While in Detroit, she attended the Ford Avenue and the Wyoming Avenue congregations of the church. Pearl could always be called upon to prepare meals for the congregation and those in need. She returned to Woodbury in the 1980’s and eventually placed her membership with the Franklin Road congregation in Murfreesboro, Tennessee. She remained a member of the Lord’s church until her death. She enjoyed attending ladies days, youth conferences and lectureships. She loved to travel and had been to every state in the U.S. except for Alaska. In 2004, as the oldest member of the Franklin Rd. Church of Christ at 89 years of age, Pearl Steward was honored as one of five “Unsung Heroes” at the Eighth Annual African American Unity Luncheon at MTSU. The luncheon focused on the May 17, 1954 case of Brown vs. Board of ED and its current impact on educational equality. She was also a member of the Woodbury Arts Center Board of Directors and the Woodbury Historical Board. She took an active part in raising funds for the United Negro College Fund.

Our Heavenly Father granted Pearl a long and fruitful life. Then on February 26, 2014, He called her home. She is survived by her daughter, Virginia Lee Pinkerton; grandchildren, Diane (Frank) Nesbit, Ginny (Clyde) Franklin and Samuel Ray (Anita) Pinkerton, Jr.; nine great-grandchildren; twelve great-great grandchildren; and a host of family members and friends too numerous to name or number.