In Loving Memory Of
The Queen - Lady Myrtis L. Stearnes
Myrtis L. (Smith) Stearnes was the oldest of two children born to the union of Dewey Stratford, Sr., and Mabel (Bailey) Smith on June 7, 1925, in Phenix City, Alabama.
Myrtis was a 1942 graduate of Spencer High School in Phenix City. She met the love of her life, George L. Stearnes, of Gary, Indiana, while attending Clark College (now Clark Atlanta University) in Atlanta, Georgia. They had a very brief courtship of less than three months. On June 20, 1945, they were united in Holy Matrimony at the courthouse in Phenix City, Alabama. Shortly after their wedding, her young groom was drafted into the United States Army and served in Fort Benning, Georgia, and Nuremberg, Germany. While he was in Germany, Myrtis remained at Clark College and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Education in 1946.
After George returned to the United States, he and Myrtis moved to Gary, Indiana, where they lived briefly with his parents. His mother was a member of the Apostolic Faith Church, a storefront assembly located at 1634 Monroe Street. It was there, during a service on Thanksgiving Day in 1946, that George and Myrtis heard the voice of the Lord, repented of their sins, and were baptized in the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ, and received the precious gift of the Holy Ghost.
As a young lady, Sister Stearnes served in the following capacities of the church: member, Noon Day Prayer Band, Sunday School Student, as well as establishing the first choir of Logan Park, and the first weekly bulletin for Logan Park. In later years, she established the Logan Park Newsletter and was a leader in Bible Bowl at the local, state, and national levels.
She was very gifted and loved arts and crafts. She crocheted many blankets for new babies over the years, as well as afghans, ponchos, vests, and other items. She loved to sew and made several outfits for herself and her girls. She enjoyed learning about the history of her family, which fueled her interest in genealogy. She spent many years researching and contacting family members. This research led to the finding that several members of the Logan Park Family are related to her! She also loved flowers and plants. Each year, she could be found working in her beautiful yard, planting various flowers and filling her home with greenery. In addition, scrapbooking was her passion. Whenever there were 'scrapbooking conventions' in the area, she would travel there to learn new ideas about how to create pages for the many albums she had left for us. She was always willing to learn new things.
For fifty-five years and eight months, Lady Stearnes faithfully and devotedly served as First Lady of Logan Park Assembly of Christ until the installation of Elder Jeffery E. Allen in January of 2019. Affectionately known as “The Queen,” she was admired for her resemblance to Queen Elizabeth, her elegant collection of dresses and hats, and the grace, dignity, and regal spirit with which she carried herself.
On June 27, 2023, at the age of 98, the Lord called our beloved queen from labor to reward. Though her presence is deeply missed, her legacy of faith, love, service, and virtue continues to live on in the hearts of all who were blessed to know her. Her life remains a shining example of steadfast devotion to God, her family, and the church.