Cheryl J. (Brown)-Stewart

Cheryl J. (Brown)-Stewart, a beloved wife, mother, grandmother, sister, and friend, passed away peacefully on October 1, 2025. Born on March 1, 1959, in the vibrant city of Berkeley, California, Cheryl's life was a testament to the enduring power of love, resilience, and dedication. Cheryl's early years were shaped by her loving parents Margaret K. Walker and Frank Brown, who instilled in her the values of compassion and perseverance. She had a special connection and relationship with her mother. She graduated a year early from Berkeley High School in 1976, determined to make her mother proud by allowing her to witness Cheryl's achievements firsthand. In 1988, Cheryl married her childhood friend and lifelong love, Shawn T. Stewart Sr. Their marriage was a beautiful union that withstood life's many challenges, including the profound loss of their youngest son, Andre Ramon Stewart. Despite the heartache, Cheryl and Shawn remained each other's best friends, demonstrating a love that was both unconditional and unwavering. Cheryl's career in customer service was marked by her commitment to helping others, but her true passions lay in writing, metaphysics, psychology, and history. A fierce advocate for Black History and Social Justice, Cheryl instilled a deep sense of pride and reverence for their heritage in her children. Known for her intelligence, sensitivity, and empathy, Cheryl touched the lives of everyone she met. Her humor and honesty were refreshing, and she was deeply cherished by her family and friends. Cheryl's connection with her high school best friends, Nomalanga and Roz W., was a source of great joy, and their weekly conversations were filled with love and laughter. Cheryl was predeceased by her parents, step-father George Sanders, sister Patricia "Pat" Parris, brother Gordon Parris, her beloved son Andre, her devoted husband, Shawn T. Stewart Sr. who passed only 11 months after her. Her Aunts Elenor and Judy Walker and their partners and her beloved cousin Deborah "Debbie" Gibbsons-Fagan. She is survived by her loving children, Shawn T. Stewart Jr. and Brittany Stewart, and her adored grandchildren, Emesah, Niko, King, and Prince. She also leaves behind a large extended family, including her cousins in New York, including Laura Gibbons-Bowman and her partner Greg Bowman, Billy Holly and his son, her sister-in-law Ethel Brown, her nephew Darnell Parris and his children Rashaan, Kahali, Keyaan, Jaden, and Saniya Parris, her niece Lisa V. of Oakland, CA and her children Jason V, Mia and Kyla Skinner and many more nieces, nephews on her Stewart side of the family , and many others who were touched by her warmth and kindness. In honoring Cheryl's memory, her family kindly suggests that donations be made directly to her children, ensuring that the values and dreams she held dear continue to thrive through them. Cheryl's legacy of love, wisdom, and strength will forever be remembered by all who had the privilege of knowing her. May her soul rest in eternal peace, wrapped in the love of those who have gone before her, and may her memory be a blessing to all who remain.