C Stuart

CLEVELAND STUART

BORN: JANUARY 2, 1937 • DIED: DECEMBER 26, 2023 AGE: 86 YEARS

Service held at: CENTREVILLE SEVENTH-DAY ADVENTIST CHURCH Fifth Terrace, Centreville Nassau N.P. Bahamas

FRIDAY, JANUARY 5, 2024 AT 11:00 A.M.

Officiating: PASTOR DR. MICHAEL TOOTE Pastor, Centreville SDA Church

PASTOR DR. PETER JOSEPH Former Executive Secretary, South Bahamas Conference of SDA

Assisted by: HEAD ELDER SIDNEY FORBES

Pianist: MRS. LORRAINE DUVALIER

Organist: MR. JAMES WALLACE

Interment:

LAKEVIEW CEMETERY John F. Kennedy Drive and Gladstone Road Nassau N.P. Bahamas

everywhere on my hip! One time I left him on the roadside and walked home… that ‘bugger’ was right where I left him when I went back hours later!” Daddy never forgot how she cared for him deeply, despite their four year age difference. Later in their lives, he returned the favour, stepping in to financially support her and her family after her husband died, leaving her a young widow.

CLEVELAND STUART

JANUARY 2, 1937 - DECEMBER 26, 2023

It was a long walk from Orange Creek…”

With immense love and sincere gratitude, we memorialize the life of our father, Cleveland ‘Cle’ Stuart. We are grateful for the many lessons learnt and invaluable experiences shared and today, we salute a giant of a man who came from humble beginnings.

From an early age, he understood the value of perseverance and the importance of seizing opportunities. He said that although they were poor, he was never hungry. He would dive for conch and catch fish in the creek, no nest was safe as he would literally “pepper” the bottom of the chickens to force them to lay the eggs for him to eat. He knew how to survive, by any means necessary.

He was equal parts mischievous and intelligent as he had a photographic memory and superior comprehension skills. He said that he just had to flip through a book and he instantly committed it to memory, much to the amazement of the British teachers stationed on the island. He was a little boy in the class with the teenagers and despite the age gap, he was naturally the best and the brightest. He would recount with pride how his teachers were confident that he could read law in England in 18 months. Although capable, his mother simply couldn’t afford it as she struggled to make ends meet. He often spoke of his Aunt Carrie, who lived in Florida, who would send clothes and financial assistance to his mother, she was his earth angel and

he loved her dearly. Daddy knew that there was more to life than what Orange Creek had to offer and with unwavering determination, he set out on a journey to create a better life for himself and his loved ones.

In the late 1950’s, Daddy joined the ‘contract’ as a fruit harvester and emigrated to the United States, there he embraced the virtues of discipline and hard work, and these qualities became the foundation of his path to success. He spoke of the discrimination and hardship that he endured and would sigh and say “The only thing good ’bout the ‘good old days’ is dey ain’t coming back!”

In 1963, destiny brought him face to face with our Mummy, Matilda, whom everyone affectionately called “Tilla”. Their meeting was serendipitous, and it marked the beginning of a remarkable journey together. They were blessed with the joy of raising us: Ricky, Renae, Chicky, Krish, Lin, Eri and Relli from Andros Avenue to Golden Gates II to Winton Heights. Our home was filled with love, laughter and endless possibilities.

Through dedication and an unyielding commitment to excellence, Daddy achieved remarkable accomplishments in the jitney business. He was thankful to Sir Lynden O. Pindling and The Honourable Philip Bethel for extending the opportunity to him to start his own franchise, Stuart’s Bus Service. From modest means, he built a thriving enterprise that not only provided for his family but also created employment opportunities for many in the community.

His entrepreneurial journey was a testament to his tenacity and vision. Daddy took calculated risks and turned challenges into opportunities. His ability to adapt, innovate, and make sound decisions propelled him forward, earning him the respect and admiration of his peers in the business community.

CLEVELAND STUART

Despite his achievements, Daddy remained grounded and humble. His greatest joy and source of pride was his family. He instilled in us, his children, the values of hard work, integrity, and resilience, ensuring that we, too, would have the tools to navigate life’s challenges with grace and determination.

He showed us that at his core, he cared deeply for our mother, as he, together with our Aunt Gwennie walked the road of recovery and remission, three times with her and ultimately he cared for her until she took her last breath on Sunday, February 17, 2013. His support in sickness and in health was unconditional and unwavering.

Around 2010, we started to notice that 3ABN was the soundtrack of his house as it seemed always to be on the television. When we asked if he was secretly an Adventist, he would simply reply “They makin’ sense, keeping the Sabbath” Whilst he may not have been a regular churchgoer in his early years, later in his life he embarked on a personal journey that led him to encounter the love and grace of Jesus Christ.

Daddy met Danny Shelton Founder of 3ABN and Pastor Jim Gilley on February 11, 2013 whilst they were on an official visit to The Bahamas, we are certain that day was one he never forgot. He was baptized on January 25, 2014 and became a member of the Centreville Seventh Day Adventist Church. So proud was he to be an Adventist that he framed his Baptismal Certificate and displayed it proudly on his bureau. From that moment on, his life took on a new purpose and meaning, he became “eternity minded”.

Daddy committed his life to serving Christ wholeheartedly. His faith became the foundation upon which he built his relationships, his decisions, and his actions. We are thankful to Elder Harrison Moxey for helping him along his journey of faith.

Our Daddy would always say “It was a long walk from Orange Creek…”. Now that his trek has ended, his indomitable spirit and the lessons he imparted will forever inspire and guide us. May his soul rest in perfect peace, and may his story serve as a reminder that with discipline, hard work, and determination, impossible is nothing.

Thank you, Daddy, for the invaluable lessons and the enduring love you bestowed upon us all. We love you and are forever grateful.•

Daddy was pre-deceased by his: loving and devoted wife of 48 years Matilda Stuart; his beloved sister Alice Stubbs; his exuberant daughter Erica Stuart, his beloved grandson Linden Stuart and dear nephews Kendal and Charles Stubbs.

He will forever be remembered and live in the hearts of his:

Children: Ricardo Stuart, W. Renae McKay, Eulease Stuart-Johnson, Christine James, Lindburgh and Terrell Stuart; adopted sons: Edward Symonette and Harrison Moxey; son-in-law: Bishop Chadwick L. James I; cherished sister-inlaw: Gwendolyn Smith Brice; daughters-in-law: Laura and Carla Stuart; sistersin-law: Gwenith and Sylvia Smith; grandchildren: Brynae McKay; Chadwick II, Chadwin, and Chad-Vaughn James; Ricardo and Rickelle Stuart; Sanchez and Kristjan Johnson; Lindburgh Peneil and Linae Stuart; great grandchildren: Raegan Brown and Zion James; nieces and nephews: William and Crystal Stubbs and family; Merle and Franklin Sands, Irene and Carolyn Stubbs; Cyril Taylor; Viola and Herbert Lightbourne; Duke and Erma Stubbs; Curlene McQueen; Henry Grant; Gloria Butler and family; Francine Rolle and family; Ethlyn Nixon and family; Gregory Barr and the family of the late Livingstone Barr; Patrick, Anthony, Wayne, Lynden, Pamela, and Paula Curtis and their respective families; Verna Lewis and family; The family of the late Laverne McPhee; Stephanie Edwards and family; Andrea Francis and family; Paulette Godet and family; Bernadette Rolle and family; Bradley Russell and family; Diana and Tenille Smith; Janiece, Kingsley, Jerome, Thomas, Kelson and Tameka Smith and their respective families; grand-nieces and nephews: Jerome and Lateca Stubbs; Omar Stubbs; Shera and Jonathan McMinns; Ethnie Stubbs; Dwayne and Marcia Seymour; Dwight Seymour; Deon Curtis; Renaldo, Tamara Stubbs, Rashan, Stacie, Mario, Khrizma, Kishel and Kayvon Stubbs; Clyde Taylor and family; Christophe Gibson; Sergio Clarke and family; Anthony and Callin Capron and their families; Anthea Poitier and family; Duke Jr. and Devaughn Stubbs; Patricia Hamilton and family; Violet Brown and family, other relatives and friends: Nathalie and Edgar Bonimy and family; Althemeze Carey and family; Carolyn Stubbs and family, Holbrook Stuart and family; Reuben Stuart and family; Octavius Stuart and family; Florinda and C.K. Smith and their respective families; Milton Newbold and family; Cathleen and Helena Stubbs and their respective families; Olivia Bowles and family; Laura Edwards and family; Annie Burrows and family; Clayton Stuart and family; The Stuart, Bowles, Stubbs and Newbold families from Orange Creek; William Poitier and family; Joe Stubbs and family; Sharlamae and Philip Stubbs and family; Elijah and Sherry, Charles and Judy, Benjamin and Cyprianna, Whitney, Alfred, Kenneth and Alma, Annamae Brice and their respective families; Helen Thompson and family; Patrice Dames and family; The family of the late Warren Brice; Brenda McKenzie and family; Essiemae McIntosh and family; Rufus, Vincent, Michael and Janice Curry and their respective families; Vanria and Cleophas Gibson and family; Sheila and Enos Mackey and family; Hannah Brice and family; The Right Honourable Pastor Philip Bethel JP and family; Alice Stuart and family; Gia Smith and family; Dr. Damian Archer and family; Brendan Davis and family; Dr. Kevin Bowe and family; Christine CurryWong and family; James and Martha Wallace and family; Michael Wisseh and family; Herbert ‘Skilly’ Marshall and family; Felix and Mary Musgrove and family, Rachel Culmer and family, Effie Burrows and family, Deborah McKinney and family, Gidget Bullard-Turnquest and family; Robert and Ron Munroe; Sharazad Pickstock and family; Elijah Charlton and family; Theresa Neely and family; Dave Seymour and family; Colin ‘CB’ Burrows; Estene Ulys and family; Jacqueline Moss and family; Minerva Edwards and family; Cecil Brown and family; Peter Mortimer and family; Danny Knowles and family; Becky Ebanks and family; the staff of Stuart’s Bus Service; Stuart’s Tour & Travel Service; McKay, Culmer & Associates; Complete Auto & Air-Conditioning; Cjay’s Bahamian Deli; Shell Harold Road and Wulff Road service stations; Mekaddish Ministries International Inc. and other family and friends, too numerous to mention.

ORDER ofSERVICE

MODERATOR: PASTOR DR. MICHAEL TOOTE, HOST PASTOR

OPENING REMARKS ....................................................................................................... PASTOR DR. MICHAEL TOOTE

CENTREVILLE SEVENTH-DAY ADVENTIST CHURCH

OPENING HYMN

And can it be that I should gain

An interest in the Savior’s blood

Died He for me, who caused His pain

For me, who Him to death pursued?

Amazing love! How can it be

That Thou, my God, should die for me?

Amazing love! How can it be

That Thou, my God, should die for me?

He left His Father’s throne above

So free, so infinite His grace

Emptied Himself of all but love

And bled for Adam’s helpless race

Tic mercy all, immense and free

For O my God, it found out me!

Amazing love! How can it be,

That Thou, my God, should die for me?

“AND CAN IT BE THAT I SHOULD GAIN”

Long my imprisoned spirit lay,

Fast bound in sin and nature’s night

Thine eye diffused a quickening ray

I woke, the dungeon flamed with light

My chains fell off, my heart was free

I rose, went forth, and followed Thee

Amazing love! How can it be

That Thou, my God should die for me?

No condemnation now I dread

Jesus, and all in Him, is mine

Alive in Him, my living Head

And clothed in righteousness divine

Bold I approach the eternal throne

And claim the crown, through Christ my own

Amazing love! How can it be

That Thou my God, should die for me?

Amazing love! How can it be

INVOCATION .................................................................................................................... HEAD ELDER SIDNEY FORBES

FIRST SCRIPTURE READING…………..… PSALM 91 ............................................. MISS LINAE STUART (Granddaughter)

CONDOLENCES ................................................. THE RIGHT HONOURABLE PASTOR PHILIP BETHEL (Life long friend)

SECOND SCRIPTURE READING .……… I CORINTHIANS 15: 50-58 ................... MR. BRENDAN DAVIS (Family friend)

TRIBUTE ....................................................................................................................MS. BRYNAE MCKAY (Granddaughter)

CONGREGATIONAL HYMN ................................................................................................... “HOW GREAT THOU ART”

Oh Lord, my God

When I, in awesome wonder

Consider all the worlds Thy hands have made I see the stars, I hear the rolling thunder

Thy power throughout the universe displayed Then sings my soul, my Savior God to Thee

How great Thou art, how great Thou art

Then sings my soul, my Savior God to Thee

How great Thou art, how great Thou art

And when I think that God, His Son not sparing

Sent Him to die, I scarce can take it in That on the cross, my burden gladly bearing He bled and died to take away my sin

Then sings my soul, my Savior God to Thee

How great Thou art, how great Thou art

Then sings my soul, my Savior God to Thee

How great Thou art, how great Thou art

When Christ shall come, with shout of acclamation

And take me home, what joy shall fill my heart

Then I shall bow, in humble adoration

And then proclaim, my God, how great Thou art

Then sings my soul, my Savior God to Thee

How great Thou art, how great Thou art

Then sings my soul, my Savior God to Thee

How great Thou art, how great Thou art

How great Thou art, how great Thou art

REFLECTIONS ..................................................................... ELDER HARRISON MOXEY (Cherished friend and adopted son)

SPECIAL MUSIC ..................................................................................................... THE HONOURABLE REGION BELLS

AS I KNEW HIM

MS. TERRELL STUART (Daughter)

MUSICAL PRESENTATION ........................................................................... CENTREVILLE SDA SANCTUARY CHOIR

EULOGY ............................................................................................................................... PASTOR DR. PETER JOSEPH, Former Executive Secretary of South Bahamas Conference

PRAYER FOR THE FAMILY ............................................................................................PASTOR DR. MICHAEL TOOTE

RECESSIONAL HYMN ...................................................................................................... “THAT GLAD REUNION DAY”

There will be a happy meeting in Heaven, I know When we see the many loved ones we’ve known here below Gathered on that blessed hilltop with hearts all aglow That will be a glad reunion day.

A glad day, a wonderful day, A glad day, a glorious day

There with all the holy angels and loved ones to stay That will be a glad reunion day.

When we live a million years in that wonderful place Basking in the love of Jesus, beholding His face It will seem but just a moment of praising His grace That will be a glad reunion day.

A glad day, a wonderful day, A glad day, a glorious day

There with all the holy angels and loved ones to stay That will be a glad reunion day.

GRAVESIDE SERVICE

SCRIPTURE READING…

JOHN 14:1-3

HEAD ELDER SIDNEY FORBES

COMMITTAL ................................................................................................................... PASTOR DR. MICHAEL TOOTE

COMMITTAL HYMN ................................................................................................................................. “IT IS FINISHED”

There’s a line that is drawn through the ages On that line stands an old rugged cross On that cross, a battle is raging To gain a man’s soul or it’s loss

On one side, march the forces of evil

All the demons, all the devils of hell

On the other, the angels of glory

And they meet on Golgotha’s hill

The earth shakes with the force of the conflict And the sun refuses to shine For there hangs God’s son, in the balance And then through the darkness he cries

It is finished, the battle is over It is finished, there’ll be no more war

It is finished, the end of the conflict

It is finished and Jesus is Lord

Yet in my heart, the battle was still raging Not all prisoners of war had come home These were battlefields of my own making I didn’t know that the war had been won

Oh, but then I heard the king of the ages Had fought all the battles for me And that victory was mine for the claiming And now praise his name, I am free.

PLACEMENT OF FLORAL TRIBUTES

HYMN........................................................................................................................................... “BLESSED ASSURANCE”

Blessed assurance, Jesus is mine! Oh, what a foretaste of glory divine! Heir of salvation, purchase of God Born of his Spirit, washed in His blood

This is my story, this is my song

Praising my Savior all the day long

This is my story, this is my song

Praising my Savior all the day long

Perfect submission, perfect delight Visions of rapture now burst on my sight Angels descending bring from above Echoes of mercy, whispers of love

This is my story, this is my song

Praising my Savior all the day long

This is my story, this is my song

Praising my Savior all the day long

Praising my Savior all the day long. BENEDICTION

CLEVELAND STUART

PALLBEARERS

Mr. Ricardo Stuart

Mr. Chadwin James

Mr. Lindburgh Stuart

Mr. Chad-Vaughn James

Mr. Lindburgh Peniel Stuart Mr. Edward Symonette

Mr. Sharazad Pickstock Elder Harrison Moxey

WITH THANKS…

Grief does not end, but it changes. It is a passage, not a place to stay. It is not a sign of weakness, nor lack of faith. It is the price we pay for love.

We, the family of Cleveland "Cle" Stuart are sincerely thankful for the outpouring of love that we have received, our sorrow has been much easier to bear. We are eternally grateful.