Willie Mae Moore 1943-2021

She was born Aug. 7, 1943, to Willie Ford and Geneva Seabrooks-Ford in Monticello, Fla. She was a graduate of Howard Academy High School in Monticello.

At the tender age of 19, she moved to Youngstown, with her Uncle E.C. and Selena Rheins. She attended Gospel Temple Church in Campbell, where she met and married Ned Stewart. They had four children: Gwendolyn Stewart Calhoun, Wendell Stewart, Willie Stewart and Tina Stewart Tatum. In 1973, she met Norman Moore and had two children: Norman and Melvin Moore.

She then relocated to Columbus in 2004 until 2010, before she decided to migrate back to the South to Camden.

Willie Mae was elected worthy matron of the Eastern Star, Ohio Chapter No. 4, Dec. 14, 1996.

Willie Mae never met a stranger and never wanted to see anyone without food and / or shelter or love. Wherever she lived, she opened her home to those who were in need. She was always known as the neighborhood mother. She even elected employment where she could care for others. She was a childcare provider, employed at Gateways to Better Living, and as a nurse’s aide at several nursing homes in the Youngstown area.

Willie Mae was a very jovial person with a phenomenal sense of humor who lived for others, and unselfishly put other’s needs before her own. She was an excellent cook.

She is survived by her brother, Henry Lee Jones of Florida; sisters, Alberta Neely of Florida, Ernestine Rheins of Florida, Mary Ford of Youngstown, Josephine (Stanley) Williams of Youngstown, and Edna Mae Brookins and Hanna Marie Jones of Florida.

She is also survived by her children, Gwen (Anthony) Calhoun of Franklin, Pa., Wendell (Chris) Stewart of Maumee, Ohio, Willie (Nikki) Stewart of Youngstown, Tina (Antonio) Tatum of Cleveland, Norman Moore of Columbus, Melvin Moore of Columbus, Juwana Murphy of Youngstown and Tony Murphy of Findlay, Ohio; 35 grandchildren; and a host of great-grandchildren, nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents.

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