Born, Sarah Novella Brown, our mother was born on Sunday, June 4,1939 to her parents, Rev. Joe Cephus and Bertha Badgett Brown. The family called her “Bell” because, as told by grandma, people would pronounce her name “Nobella” instead of “Novella,” thus “Bell.”

Mama was the third of ten children (second oldest daughter). She would often talk to us about the closeness she and her siblings shared and how important that bond was to her. It was evidenced by the numerous occasions they would gather at a restaurant (usually K&W) for dinner and end up closing the restaurant because of the good conversation and laughter. Our cousins can attest to this because sometimes we were in the mix.

Mama met the love of her life, our daddy, Navis Glenn Stewart, Sr., a few years after graduating from Booker T. Washington High School in 1957. It was a blind date arranged by one of her best friends. They married on May 23, 1959; and from that union, we were born - Charlotte Marie, Sandra Jeanette and Navis Glenn, Jr.

The family moved to Connecticut in 1968. While there, Mama earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in Early Childhood Education from St. Joseph University and began working for the Hartford Board of Education. She enjoyed teaching fifth grade. Mama often said most of her job required her to use her motherly instincts. One of her close friends, Jessie Reid, was a fellow teacher and they bonded over classroom experiences as well as family. They met as neighbors on the same street and encouraged each other throughout their careers.

Mama was an active member at Hopewell Baptist Church in Hartford, Connecticut. She co-supervised a youth choir and teen group with another close friend, Barbara Cobb. They introduced God to the youth of the church via music, travel and dramatic productions.

After retiring, our parents relocated to Greensboro, North Carolina. They joined New Zion Missionary Baptist Church; and Mama continued her love and passion of working with children. She joined the Youth Ministry team and became Chairperson of the Youth Ministry’s Children’s Church.

In 2009, after our brother’s death, Mama wanted to continue his legacy of love of travel by establishing The Tiger Memorial Fund. She meticulously approached the late Guilford County Commissioner Carolyn Coleman, Dr. Jewell Cooper, Mrs. Sharon Banks and Mrs. Deborah Sandlin to serve on the Board. Attorney Duane Bryant offered his services as Legal Consultant. Together, this dynamic team realized Mama’s vision of exposing the youth of New Zion and the community to other states, cultures and experiences through travel. The vision has expanded by occasionally assisting the Senior Ministry with their travels to events in other states.

In addition to her parents, she is preceded in death by Daddy, Navis Glenn Stewart, Sr., her husband of 60 years; our brother, Navis Glenn Stewart, Jr.; four brothers: Warren Brown, William Brown, Bernard Brown and John A. Brown; two sisters: Carrie Maxine Williams and Lucy Joann McGreggor. She leaves to remember her lovingly and fondly two daughters: Charlotte Marie Stewart and Sandra Jeanette Stewart; two sisters: Ruth Helen Adamson and Judge Betty Jean Brown; one brother: James H. Brown; one brother-in-law: Mack Murphy Stewart (Lois Jean) and many, many nieces, nephews, cousins and friends that she cherished and adored.

Mama, thank you for all your sacrifices, support, discipline and life lessons -- but mostly, YOUR LOVE!! Daddy and Navis, get ready ‘cause here she comes!! It’s your turn now to embrace, love and spoil OUR QUEEN!! Thank you, God, for BLESSING us with our devoted and loving Mama!!

A homegoing celebration will be held on Thursday, September 3, 2026 at New Zion Baptist Church, 408 Martin Luther King, Jr. Drive, Greensboro; visitation with the family begins at 11:30 am followed by the service at 12:00 pm. Interment will follow in Gwynn's Chapel Baptist Church.