Joan Bishop Jenkins Stewart, 70 of New Haven departed this life, peacefully on Tuesday, July 2, 2013 at her home surrounded by her family.
She was born, January 7, 1943 to Anita Glover Bishop and the late Charles Arthur Bishop.
This woman, small in stature, was a woman who stood tall among many, weathering the obstacles in her care and quest for the rights of mankind. Her life exemplifies what we all should do in His name and love for one another. She was a guardian of human rights!
Her formal education was completed in the New Haven Public Schools and she was a proud graduate of James Hillhouse High School. Joan, an active member of the student body was a majorette and led the squad as Captain in her senior year. She completed her Bachelor of Science degree at New Hampshire College, School of Human Services, Manchester, NH; her Master of Science degree in Urban Studies, Southern Connecticut State University, New Haven, CT, and her Juris Doctorate, University of Connecticut School of Law, Hartford, CT.
Except for several years in the Washington, DC area, where she was employed at Howard University, the majority of her life was spent in New Haven. A native and lifelong member of the New Haven community, she was very active in the happenings of her city. Her early employment included her work with the United Way of New Haven as the Director of Research and as the Coordinating Counselor. Her ensuing employment included, the Assistant National Coordinator of Dixwell Legal Rights; Director of New Haven Volunteers, Inc.; Administrator, New Haven Legal Assistance and Legal Associate at Williams and Wise Law Firm, New Haven, CT. Her employ with the City of New Haven included serving as the Deputy Chief Administrative Officer and as the Director of Labor Relations.
Lastly, she was the Executive Director of Children in Placement, Inc., a CASA Program, for eighteen years where she used her legal expertise to advance the cause for neglected and abused children in the State of Connecticut. She was recognized throughout CASA as one who cared and one who ‘walked the walk and talked the talk’ advocating for the disadvantaged.
Joan’s involvement in the community included her appointment as a Commissioner on the State of Connecticut Ethics Commission; Vice Chair of the State of Connecticut Elections Enforcement Commission; member of the Connecticut Advisory Council for Victims of Crime; the Governor’s Task Force on Justice for Abused Children and the New Haven Symphony Orchestra Board of Directors. Other civic and social organizations included membership in the Theta Epsilon Omega Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., the African American Women’s Agenda and the Connecticut African American Historical Society. She was also a communicant at St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church where she served as a member of the Women’s Guild, the Vestry, and Junior Warden.
She leaves to cherish her memory, her dearest mother, Anita G. Bishop, her devoted husband, Clyde Stewart; a beloved son, John P. Jenkins, Jr., (Rebecca); a loving daughter, Nicole Numan; nine dear grandchildren, one special great grandchild and a host of other relatives to carry on her legacy. A memorial service to honor and celebrate her life will be held on Monday, July 15, 2013 at 11:00AM at St. Andrews Episcopal Church, 266 Shelton Ave, New Haven, CT 06511. The Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. “Ivy Beyond The Wall” Ceremony will take place at 10:00 AM at the church. Memorial contributions may be made, in her name to Children in Placement, Inc., 300 Whalley Avenue, New Haven, CT 06511 or via the program website, www.childreninplacement.org. Services by Howard K. Hill Funeral Services, 1287 Chapel Street, New Haven, CT 06511. For online memorial dedications, please visit www.hkhfuneralservices.com.
What a great person you were, and what a loss for the greater New Haven community, especially for the children you cared and fought for. May you rest in peace, knowing that your work was well done and your life well lived.