Mable "Jean" Stewart

Mable Jean Stewart (Oliver) was born to the late Willie J. Oliver and Girdie Lee Johnson-Dennis on August 2, 1937 in Atlanta, Georgia. She went home to be with the Lord on January 13, 2025.

Mable, also known as Jean, was baptized at the age of 7 years old and started singing in the church choir at 8 years old. She had her first solo debut in the Church Easter Play where she sung “Old Rugged Cross”. Jean moved to Dayton, Ohio in 1956 where she married and later divorced. Although she attended school at W.A. Fountain High School in her home town of Forest Park, Georgia, Jean received her GED from Patterson Vocational School in Dayton, Ohio. Her skills consisted in typing, shorthand, upholstery, and seamstress, sales clerk, switchboard operator, foster parenting, waitress and yes, even barmaid.

Jean joined Mt. Carmel Missionary Baptist Church in 1972. She REALLY enjoyed being with her church family. In her earlier years she served on the matron board, sung in the mass choir and even served as Choir President of 1 year. She was a proud participant of the cleaning committee doing light janitorial duties, cooking in the kitchen, and assisting in the food pantry. She shared a kindred relationship with 2 dear friends that have since passed away: Sister Virginia Boykin and Sister Minnie Dillard.

Outside of church Jean kept busy with volunteering in voter registrar and attending the Dakota Center for senior activities. Jean, affectionately known as “GG”, was proud to boast to anyone who would listen that she was the matriarch of her beloved family and how she enjoyed spending time with her great, great grandsons before her passing.

Mable Jean was preceded in death by her father, mother, brother, Walter Lee “WL” Dennis; sister, Vivian Louise Dennis-Ector; niece, Sheila Clark; nephews, Robert Barnes, Jr., Zadie Barnes, and Alfredo “Pojab” Barnes; stepsister, Diane Evans; and brother-in-law, Robert Barnes, Jr.

Left to cherish precious memories: her aunt, Earnestine (Willie) Finkley; sister, Lula I. “Sista” Barnes; daughter, Viennease Dennis; granddaughters, LaTosha J. and Imani K.L. Dennis; great grandchildren, Michael J. Brown-Stokes, James E.J. Stokes, Jo”Nae B. Cobbins, and Amon M. Dennis; great-great grandsons, Jace E.J. Stokes and Keion J.R. Davis; nephews, Dirk (Dorothea “Tootie”) Dennis, Silento Barnes, and Tony Evans; nieces, Paulette Holmes, Penny Clark, Lynnette Holmes, and Tameka Fluellen; a host of cousins, great nieces, great nephews, sister-in-law; Voncile Dennis and her care friends.

A visitation will be held on Friday, January 31, 2025 from 11am to 1pm at Newcomer Funeral Home, 4104 Needmore Road, Dayton, Ohio 45424. A graveside service will follow at 2pm at West Memory Gardens (6722 Hemple Road, Moraine, Ohio 45418. 

To share a memory of Jean or to leave a special message for her family, please sign the online guestbook provided.