Charles Stewart

Charles Stewart passed away on June 6, 2020, surrounded by his family. Private family services will be held. donations may be made to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital.

Mr. Charles E. Stewart, Sr., 69, was born on October 3, 1950 in Holly Springs, MS, the third of ten children to Moses and Everline Stewart. He departed on June 6, 2020 in Des Moines, IA, in the comfort of his home, surrounded by his wife, children and grandchildren.

In his youth, Charles was known by several nicknames including "Peter-Paul", "Charles Edward" and "Bro". After his family moved to Memphis, TN when he was 8 years old, he became a member of New Bethel Missionary Baptist Church in Germantown, TN. Later, he graduated from Mt. Pisgah High School in 1968. During this time, Charles was also active in civil rights protests that occurred in Memphis during the Civil Rights Movement of the 1960s.

In 1970, Charles left Tennessee and moved to Des Moines, IA for work. He began his career as a machinist for John Deere Des Moines Works a job he maintained for 30 years before he retired. Charles also had an entrepreneurial spirit, so in 1992, he began a successful real estate business.

In pursuit of a higher education, Charles earned an Associate of Arts degree from Des Moines Area Community College (DMAAC) in 1973. During his time at DMACC, he also served as the president of the Black Student Union. After his time at DMACC, Charles attended Drake University and received his Bachelor of Arts Degree in Public Administration. Although he graduated from Drake in 1978, Charles was a life-long learner who was well-read on diverse topics including religion, history and finance.

Charles life changed in 1973 - when he met Evelyn Miller, another student on DMACCs campus. Two years later on June 1, 1975, the two were married in Memphis, TN. Their union created three children: Charles, Jr., Amecah, and Tekara.

Charles also had a church family. In 1990, he was ordained as a Deacon at Morning Star Missionary Baptist Church in Des Moines where he also served as a Trustee and Sunday School Teacher. Later he served as a Deacon at Corinthian Baptist Church also in Des Moines.

Charles enjoyed several hobbies - playing cards, singing, and hunting to name a few. It was not unusual for Charles and Evelyn to drive to Kansas City for a football game or for shopping trips with their children. In 2005, Charles fulfilled a life-long dream of visiting the "motherland", Africa, during a trip to the Republic of Ghana with his son.

Left to cherish his memories are his wife Evelyn Stewart, son Charles Stewart Jr. (Ashley), daughters Amecah Butts (DeMarcus) and Tekara Stewart Fomsi (Kale), grandsons Charles Stewart III and Kairo Butts, granddaughters Asa Fomsi, Alexandria Stewart and Marcedes Butts, sisters Katie Burns (Stoney), Cornelia Green (Ronnie), Darlene Perkins (Larry) and Taucha Stewart, and brothers Tony Stewart (Alexandria) and Tracy Stewart as well as a host of nephews, nieces, cousins and friends.

He was preceded in death by his mother and father, as well as brothers Johnny Stewart and Lorenzo Stewart and sisters Ernestine Lewis and Angelette Stewart.Memorial Service









Saturday, June 20, 2020

Starts at 11:00am









St Paul African Methodist Episcopal Church