lucy imogene stewart

But none did or could have anticipated that the Disease would make such abnormally rapid strides. At first the measures taken seemed to succeed, and it was felt that after a short period of special nursing she would be quite fit to undertake the journey to Jamaica and arrangements were being made with this object in view. After ten days or so, however, it was apparent that the disease was making headway; there was not sufficient improvement to justify her attempting to travel alone and special leave was granted to Mr Stewart to enable him to take her home.

But it was not so to be. God had appointed otherwise: His plans did not coincide with ours but we gladly acknowledge that he made no mistake in planning for us. Passages had been secured; the baggage made ready for the journey, when it became evident that the idea of travelling would have to be abandoned. On Monday April 7th, respiratory troubles began to manifest themselves but when I left her on the evening of that day she was quite bright and cheerful. The next day she managed to get up for a short time but that proved to be the last occasion. On Wednesday the 9th. she was seized with a fit in the early morning. Another fit followed on the evening of the same day, Still the doctor did not anticipate the end as being immediately near, but at 9 p.m. on the 10th. the call came. She weakened rapidly, but no more fits ensued, and she remained perfectly conscious right up to the end. She called her husband and friends around her and her last words were “I am going home.” Mrs. Druitt, with all her experiences says “I was never present at a more beautiful and impressive scene.”

The next day we laid her to rest in the Cemetery at Onitsha where a large number of friends gathered to pay their last respects to the dead and to express their sympathy with those who had suffered loss. It was a perfect evening. As the service at the graveside came to a conclusion the last rays of the setting sun were disappearing below the horizon whilst from directly overhead the pale silver beams of the young moon shone down upon a scene of singular beauty. A more glorious evening could not be imagined.

Our loss is great - too great for us to measure at this stage. Only as the days pass do we realise how much we miss her. Jamaica gave to Africa one of her best in Lucy Stewart and all here knew it. Let it not be thought for one moment that such a life has been thrown away or in any way wasted. Far from it indeed. Her works do follow her and the memory of her will be fragrant for many years to come. I feel that I have lost a real friend and words fail me in reckoning up the personal loss of such a one. She is at rest; her work is done, her crown is won, and with “Christ she is far better.” We cannot grudge her her new found joy in the presence of her Master. Could anything have been more beautifully expressed, and with grander simplicity, than “I am going home?” What a wealth of meaning; what a glorious truth those simple words contain.

GEORGE T. BASDEN.

Awka,

Southern Nigeria.

April 1913.

[It is an interesting fact that the writer of the above has working under his direct supervision all the Jamaicans in the Ibo Mission, Mr. Stewart has resumed work. Mr. and Mrs. R. A. Llewellyn and Mr. and Mrs. W. L. Brown are at Awka. At the funeral of Mrs. Stewart the first part of the service was taken by Mr. Basden who also gave the address. It was evident that he felt it deeply. The final rites at the grave were carried through by the Venerable Archdeacon Dennis, M. A.]

Jamaica Times, August 23, 1913, page 27.

  DIED AT DUTY’S POST

We recently announced the death in West Africa of Mrs. J. B Stewart, a missionary daughter of Jamaica. In our issue of June 21st., page 5 appeared an article on her work from the pen of the Rev. George T. Basden, M.A., Principal of the Training College at Awka, British W. Africa.

We to-day produce a picture of Mrs. Stewart surrounded by a group of African girls among whom she worked and with whom her influence was a potent factor.

Mrs. Stewart was well known in Kingston as Miss Drysdale. She went to Africa with her husband immediately after their marriage and threw herself heart and soul into the Mission Work. Their first Station together was at Onitsha, then they were moved to Awka.

Our readers will remember that Mr. Basden, in the article above referred to speaks in very high terms of appreciation of Mrs. Stewart’s character and work. She laid down her life at the post of duty.

I do not know much more about the Stewarts. Lucy's husband, Jacob, who had first gone to Nigeria in 1905, returned to Jamaica on furlough in 1916, perhaps bringing their 5-year-old daughter, Eva, with him. He returned to his work in Nigeria in 1917, but by the early 1920s he had to return to Jamaica, his health shattered. He died in 1923, at the age of 45. Eva seems to have been brought up by her Drysdale aunts, her mother's sisters. She attended the Anglican girls' high school, St Hugh's, and then and later received a good education in music. During the 1930s she became known as an organist, pianist, and as an excellent accompanist. At that time she played chiefly for church functions, but in the later 1940s, besides having a music studio, she organised a trio, and on into the 1960s she played at clubs and for visiting singers. I have not been able to find anything more about Lucy's daughter after the mid-1960s; I hope someone can help!