Tributes

DARLENE JANE STEWART, of Baltimore, MD, built quite the legacy in her 84 years with us. Born and raised in Philadelphia, PA, Darlene always had a strong sense of family. She is survived by: her brother, Charles Gibson; her husband, Charles Stewart; her children, Eric and Michelle; her grandchildren, OmAllah, Eric, Alexus, Brandon, N’Dera, Kaiy, Destiny and Camille; her great-grandson, Ebrahmin; as well as numerous nieces and nephews. She was a woman who shared her truth through anecdotal stories, dancing and poetry recitations while holding space for you to honor yours. Ask any of her family about line dancing, and why she refused to eat tomato soup or polenta. Darlene proudly attended Girls High and later Temple University in Philadelphia. It was at Temple that she met Chaz, her beloved husband of 62 years. Lene and Chaz are notoriously inseparable and a strong example for anyone who was fortunate enough to meet them. Mrs. Stewart valued education, having taught in the school systems for 42 years. After she retired, Mrs. Stewart could still be found teaching if her students were smart enough to listen. Darlene was a woman of leadership and service; to the Order of the Eastern Stars, the Daughters of Isis, her church and her community. Mean Lene was a survivor! After beating breast cancer more than fifty years ago, she battled with lung cancer for the last ten years of her life. Whether you got rounded up into Mean Lean’s posse or not, you got to bear witness to an unwavering symbol of grace, strength and hope.

Tributes

Darlene Jane Gibson-Stewart

July 21, 1937 - May 22, 2022