Lillie Maxine (Hill) James-Stewart

Mrs. Lillie Maxine Hill James-Stewart, a resident of Norwalk, CT, passed away peacefully on August 22, 2019. She was born in the southern town of Waycross, Georgia, the fifth of eight children born to the late Jimmie and Annie Mae Hill. Her siblings remember and celebrate the life of their brothers, Freddie Sr. and Jimmie, Jr., and their sister, Julia, who along with Maxine are now together again with their parents. 

Maxine was educated in the Public School System of Ware County, Georgia. Graduating from Center High School in the Class of 1968.  She became a Licensed Realtor in 1976 and was employed by William Pitt Sotheby’s International Realty for over 20 years as a Director of Destination Services for the Company’s 28 offices and 1,100+ agents.

Maxine joined Greater Faith Tabernacle Church in 1989 and was an active member, holding numerous offices. She was a former Trustee, member of the Mass Choir, an Adult Class Teacher, a member of the Church School Team, Youth Ambassadors Advisor and an Advisor to the Voices of Joy Youth Choir until she accepted her call into the Ministry.

Amid wrestling with her call to the Ministry, Maxine immersed herself in a host of ministry preparations, both lay and professional. She attended the Community Tabernacle School of Divinity; completed the Certificate Program for Christian Ministry in 2008 from New York Theological Seminary; graduated in 2012 with dual Bachelor of Arts Degrees in Religion and Psychology (attaining the highest honors with a 4.0 GPA) from The College of New Rochelle; and considered herself an understudy of her Pastor, the Reverend Johnny C. Bush, ACPE Supervisor.  To enhance her public speaking and leadership skills, she became a member of Stamford’s Toastmasters International and completed her professional goal of obtaining her Master of Divinity Degree in 2017.

Maxine believed in the power of prayer and loved nothing better than to praise and worship Almighty God. Her favorite Hymn was “Yes God is Real” and her favorite scripture was Psalm 91. Blessed to have grown up in a family of a praying grandmother and an Evangelist as a mother, she was one of three siblings ordained into the Gospel Ministry.  

Maxine’s hobbies included reading and collecting special miniature shoes.  She was well-known amongst her friends as the famous “Shoe Lady.”

Besides her parents, Maxine was preceded in death by a son, Tyre Stewart, Jr.; two brothers, Freddie M. Hill, Sr. and Jimmie Hill, Jr.; and one sister, Julia E. Hill. 

Maxine loved nothing more than her family. Left to cherish beautiful memories are her devoted husband, Tyre Stewart, Sr.; two daughters, Bernita Stewart-Washington (Reverend Dr. Carl Sr.) and Venus Stewart Jaead; 8 grandchildren; 17 great grandchildren; a special niece, Taylor Maxine Hill of New Haven, CT, to which she was both an aunt and second mother; two sisters, Jeanette Williams, Waycross, GA and Charlie Mae Paige (Elijah Jr.), Douglasville, GA; two brothers, Apostle Cornelius Hill (Loretta), East Orange, NJ and Elder Mark Murdock, Trumbull, CT; two sister-in-law, Almetra Murdock, Newburgh, NY; Corlis Jean Stewart, Trenton, NJ; two brother in law, Robert Stewart, Norwalk, CT; Louis Stewart, Spokane, WA; one step-sister, Wanda Carter, Waycross, GA; two step-brothers, Larry Hill, Tampa, FL and David Horne, Daytona, FL; two adopted sisters, Maxine Johnson, Waycross, GA and Renee Black-Washington, Hempstead, NY; one adopted brother, Harry Walker, Waycross, GA; three aunts, Mable Bembry and Lelia Lynch of Bronx, NY and Alma Inman, Waycross, GA; one uncle, Ernest Hill (Gloria), Bethesda, MD; a host of nieces, nephews, and cousins, “The Stamford Five”; and extended family members, Pastor Sonya Merrill-Williams, Dora Groccia and Nathaniel Burns (Anita).

Visitation will be held August 30th from 6:00 p.m.- 8:00 p.m. at Greater Faith Baptist Church, 28 Baxter Avenue, Stamford CT; Reverend Johnny C. Bush, pastor.

Celebration of Life will be held August 31st at 9:30 a.m. at Bethel AME Church, 150 Fairfield Avenue, Stamford, CT; Reverend Leroy Ladson, Jr., pastor. Rev. Johnny C. Bush will deliver the eulogy.

Interment will follow at St. John Catholic Cemetery, 25 Camp Ave., Darien, CT.

Condolences may be expressed online at www.lacerenzafh.com

Services are entrusted with Lacerenza Funeral Home, 8 Schuyler Avenue, Stamford, CT.