Bertha M. Bryant

Bertha M. Stewart was born on April 1, 1926 in Kissimmee, Florida to parents Daniel Benjamin Stewart, Sr. and Rosa Lee Stewart. Bertha attended public schools in Kissimmee, Florida. She was a graduate of Kissimmee High School class of 1945. At an early age, she joined St. Luke Missionary Baptist Church where she began to be involved in church activities where she received early learnings of the church. As she flourished as an “A and B” students, she was in the first graduating class of 1945. Along with doing domestic work, she became a substitute teacher at Kissimmee High School for 5 years, where she was known as “Mrs. Atwaters” and to some today she is still known as “Mrs. Atwaters”. Bertha married Robert Atwaters. She continued doing domestic work as well as church work, helping in many areas of church ministry such as: youth recital, Easter, Christmas, Choir #1, Church Secretary, Christian Drama Ministry, Mission Ministry, Prayer Band, Various Pastor’s Anniversaries, Pastor Installations, Deaconess Ministry, Circle #2 meeting on Monday nights at the homes of the sisters of the church, church historian, worked with the first South Florida Association and many other tasks. As a Christian she would often help the sick by making home visits and ministering to them by their bedside. She fed many children, people and strangers. Bertha was one who never forgot those who taught her how to do. Periodically mentioning an aspect of gratitude toward those who showed her the way. After much time, she was married in Holy matrimony to James David Stallworth. Bertha volunteered as a worker at the voting poll. As time passed, she began working a new job for Osceola County’s meals on wheels, still in the framework of ministry - “feeding the hungry”. After retiring, Bertha continued to work in the church as well as the work of the church. In later years, Bertha and Deacon Jasper Bryant were married. She continued to work in the church even while she was in and out of the hospital and nursing homes. She remained faithful serving on committees right from her bedside, making it to church on those special days when she could get there. Bertha fulfilled her Christian duty… “Be thou faithful unto death”. She had a saying, “I’d rather wear out than to rust out”. “And I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me, write, Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth: yea, saith the spirit, that they may rest from their labours, and their works do follow them”. ~Revelation 14:13~ Bertha was preceded in death by her father: Daniel Benjamin Stewart, Sr.; mother: Rosa Lee Stewart; son: Bernard Atwaters, Sr.; brothers: Raymond Smith, David Samuel Stewart, Daniel Benjamin Stewart, Jr.; sisters: Ernestine Stewart, Rachel L. Stewart, Addie Mae Cox and Dorthy Lawrence; granddaughter: Keshia Stallworth; great grandson: Rubin Atwaters, Jr. Left to cherish her loving memories is her son: Pastor Harold C. Stallworth, Sr. (Letha) of Kissimmee, Florida, daughter-in-law: Mary Atwaters of Boynton Beach, Florida; step-son: Anthony Smith of Green Cove Springs, Florida; step-daughter: Carol Chambers of Kissimmee, Florida; sister-in-law: Dorthy J. Stewart of Orlando, Florida; grandchildren: Cecelia Shade (Reggie) of Boynton Beach, Florida, Adrienne Roundtree of Boynton Beach, Florida, Tammy Savage (Ray) of Jonesboro, GA; Latoyia Stallworth of Kissimmee, Florida; Rodney Atwaters, Sr. of Boynton Beach, Florida, Chirea Thornton (Eric) of Boynton Beach, Florida and Rubin Atwaters, Sr. (Charlene) of Boynton Beach, Florida, Harold Stallworth, Jr. (Keyanna) of Poinciana, Florida, Bernarde’ Atwaters (Jessica) of Boynton Beach, Florida and Bernard Atwaters, Jr. of Boynton Beach, Florida; 17 grandchildren, 36 great-grandchildren, 20 great-great grandchildren; god-children: Thaddeaus Lattimore, Markus Paul, Melonie W. Washington, Lisa Green, Michelle Johnson, Betty Chappell, children---Lattimore children, Wilkerson children, Woods children, Anderson children, Black children, and Flowers children; god-sister: Vernice Cason; dear friend: Billie Yates and a host of other loving relatives and friends.

Tributes

Bertha M. Bryant

April 1, 1926 - July 31, 2019