he just past Mother’s Day and upcoming Father’s Day stirs memories that I would like to share with you about my wonderful mother and father. My mother, Emma Wallace-Stewart, and her three sisters, Nellie, Irene and Nettie were all born in Darby, Pennsylvania. My father, Alexander Stewart, had three brothers, Cornelius, Morris and Lewis. My mother and father met and had three sons all named after my uncles and four girls, Helen, Lillian, Catherine and Ruth (your writer) who made up the Stewart family. The love my mom and dad showed each other and the love they showed all of their children made for a complete and close family. A lot of memories, most of them happy, are intertwined throughout my early adult life.

       I remember as a 4-year-old toddler sitting on my mom’s lap while in church looking down at my new Easter shoes. They were black patent leather roman sandals. During my early years, my sisters and brothers cared for me with just as much love as shown by all the family.

       Mom was a great cook and on Saturday evening before going to bed I would help put together the dough to make biscuits for Sunday morning breakfast that would be eaten warm with her homemade apple jelly. After breakfast my sisters helped me put on one of my Sunday dresses and then the Stewart family was off to attend our church in New Haven, CT.  The Varick Memorial A.M.E. Zion Church is the second oldest A.M.E. Zion Church and I remained a member until my marriage. I married Minor Loving, who was really a loving husband and an understanding and very good father. We left Connecticut shortly after our marriage and moved to Massachusetts.

       Now in June 2010, these memories are among many of my good ones as I move along my life’s highway. You and I soon will be remembering and honoring our fathers as we recall those days spent with our dads.  My dad, “Pop” Stewart, was soft spoken even when he disciplined my sisters, brothers and me. Whenever my mom and pop disagreed, they never shouted or raised their voices in front of our family. Their words were low keyed.

       As I was growing up, our family gatherings were held because we wanted to be together. The important meal was eating supper together. Afterwards we helped clear the tables, did the dishes and then were off to bed by 7:00 p.m. That is until the day pop brought home a radio and plugged it into the wall socket and we heard voices. For me it was an important moment in my life. We were very surprised as pop tried to show us how to turn the knob to hear music and the voice of Mr. Lowell Thomas who told us what had happened in the U.S. and around the world.

       The years have passed and I miss my beautiful and wonderful flower-pot growing, best cook, best teacher and the most understanding mom ever, who has moved on to another home to be with my pop. I know they’re still together and still in love. As for me, Dr. Ruth B. Loving, yes, I had a beautiful mother and a wonderful pop. I live with the hope to once again be together with them--my beloved mom and pop.  n