Obituary of Inez L Stedford

LEONTEE STEDFORD (nee Baker) was born October 6, 1928 to the late Keturah Lovelace-Baker and Wilbert Baker in Clarendon Jamaica. At a young age, with her cousins, Inez spent an extensive amount of time with her beloved grandparents. Her grandfather would gather all of them for bible study nightly, and each had to memorize a bible verse for the next evening, this translated to Inez being a prolific bible scholar, who could quote numerous bible verses, bible stories, and many Psalms. She could quote them even up to 2 months before her passing. After finishing high school, she was an apprentice to a seamstress and gained her knowledge of sewing, knitting, and crocheting. She made some beautiful pieces especially in embroidery. Later she lived in Kingston, where she met and married her beloved Leslie Stedford, who pre-deceased her. Some years later, they migrated to the UK for better opportunities, where they spent many years working; two of their children were born in England. After the death of her husband, Inez moved to the US, and was later joined by her children. Inez worked as a CNA for Bayada Nurses, among other agencies, for many years in New York and New Jersey. After leaving city life, in her 60’s she tried out for her driver's license, and who knew she needed a better instructor; Inez just couldn’t get that parallel parking down! After several tries, her children just said, ‘mom, we’ll drive you anywhere you want to go’. Whether she could drive or not, she never missed church on a Sunday; dressed to the nines, with everything matching from head to toe. She was a long-standing member of the Church of the Good Shephard United Methodist Church, in Willingboro, New Jersey. She served faithfully on the Usher board, and the Choir until she no longer could. Inez was also a proud member of the, United Methodist Women (UMW). After she moved to Burlington, NJ, in a senior living residence, she became a member of St. Mary Street United Methodist Church. When Inez became a resident of Masonic Village, in Burlington NJ, she attended the Chapel there; again, she would be in church every Sunday. Pastor Anastase, commented on how she was always so fabulously dressed. ‘Miss Inez’, was often what most would call her, or ‘Sister Inez’, she cherished being called ‘mum’, ‘mother’, ‘grandma’, and ‘aunt’. She loved weekly devotional books, old movies, soap operas, the news, crossword puzzles, word puzzles, romance novels, a good Jamaican beef patty or some oxtails, beautiful purple or red garments, ‘cutehats’, ‘cute shoes’, ‘cute handbags’, red lipstick and sweet-smelling body powders or perfumes (especially ‘Timeless’ by Avon). Inez was a humble, caring woman, who was content with the love of her children and family. She did not crave for worldly things, she loved her God, and family, and she left a legacy of love for her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. She was always, immensely proud of her children, the life they live, their family, and their accomplishments. She always said “I pray for you all and your family, every day” Inez leaves to mourn her, her five adoring children, Lorna Kirby-Lynch (Halery Deceased), Ruel Stedford (Marcia), Angela Stedford-Barrett (Dmitri), Marie Stedford-Tait (Delroy), Andrea Stedford-Corpening (Charles). Eleven wonderful grandchildren, Shawn, Yolanda, Kirk, Leon, Tiaa, Nicolette, Richard, Courtney, Jade, Nathaniel, Nasir; 7 special,bonus grandchildren Neka, Stephen, Charlie, Xavier, Joel, Dmitri Jr. and Deardra; 7 lovely great-grandchildren, 8 bonus great-grandchildren; her very special and loving sister Ruby Scott, nieces, nephews, and a host of cousins' and other loving relatives and friends. Inez was a God fearing, loving mother, grandmother, auntie, family member, friend; a hard-working and compassionate caregiver, who has left us with many precious memories, including her sweet, little signature laugh. May her soul rest in peace, and light perpetual shine on her