Clayton Stewart

Clayton Stewart was born on January 11, 1946 in Hardaway, Alabama. He attended Damascus Historical School in Hardaway. Clayton was a country boy at heart and loved his family. By the age of 21, he had already moved to Haines City, FL to reside with his late father David J. Stewart, Sr. As a young man he worked tirelessly on the farm with his father and long hours at the Fertilizer plant in Haines City. Clayton was a very hard worker and very determined and went after what he wanted. While his brother and sisters had moved away to New Jersey, Clayton was enjoying life as a good ol’ Florida boy, constantly working, helping his father and coming into his own as a young man and wanted a family of his own. By the time April of 1968 rolled in Clayton had met and married Sandra Murray. They had two beautiful daughters Lisa and Stephanie. A short time after, Clayton and Sandra moved their family to New Jersey; and two more blessings, Steven and Danielle were added to the family circle. They were married for 30 years. Clayton was always a hard worker and carried that work ethic into anything that he did. While he was in the city he was still Alabama at heart and it showed. He first job was at GAF Corporation, followed by American Cyanamid and then finally Rutgers University where he would complete his final work legacy. Clayton was Head group leader at Rutgers University on Cook/Douglas Campus in New Brunswick, NJ. If you were looking for Clay you could catch him cutting the grass, back at the tractors, the keyshop, at the office or as he always would yell to Stephanie “I’m under the bridge or I’m over here by Sears or just come on round the bend you’ll see me right there, I’m in the truck, come on here now.” Rutgers was Clayton and Clayton was Rutgers. He took pride in his work and the friendships and bonds that he made there will stand the test of time. He was well respected and it showed. He helped shaped the lives of the many men that came to work with him. When you talk about the Soul of New Brunswick, and a Legend of Highland Park you cannot speak of Mighty Men and not mention Clayton. He would fix your car, move you out of an apartment and pick up scraps all in the same day. He would give unconditionally of himself. Just know if you ask for a certain amount of money that is what you would you get so you better make sure that’s what you need. From the projects to uptown, to Highland Park Southside from the bridge to S. 7th and all in between everybody knew Clayton he was one of the heartbeats of both towns, ready and willing to help whoever. He would talk smack and then turn right around and help, it was the Alabama boy in him. From singing in the church choir at Tabernacle to putting on that smooth white hat, he would tell you, “I know I look good” and was gone, to ride slow down the avenue with his arm hanging out the window as he had to yell at everyone he passed and laugh and let them know “aight now”. When Clayton retired from Rutgers in 2018 after working there for over 40 years, I think a piece of him retired too. He left a piece of himself on that campus, he will be truly missed. He went on to do scrap work, moved people and still helped those in the town when and where ever they needed it. The soul of this man is measured in the lives he helped. Clayton Stewart is preceded in death by his parents, David J. Stewart, Sr. and Alberta Johnson, his brothers David J. Stewart, Jr, Timothy Stewart and Mark Stewart, his nephews, Jimmy Lee Baker, Willie Weaver, Jr., and Cedric Taylor. He leaves to Cherish his life and legacy his four children, Lisa Stewart, Stephanie Stewart, Steven Stewart and Danielle Stewart-Byrd (Kamau Byrd), 9 Grandchildren, Derrick, Tajae, Willie, Kamiya, Daelyn, Danielle, Nicholaus, Demetrius and Hannah, 11 Sisters, Predenise Baker, Minnie Weaver, Phyllis Taylor, Kathy Johnson, Dale Kennedy, Vanessa Hood, Vera Green, Leanna Streeter, Eva Ollin, Charlotte Tafe and Helen Maxwell, 2 Brothers Calvin Stewart and Tommy Stewart, 4 nephews, Harold Baker, Jeffrey Stewart, Jason Taylor and Prosanto Weaver, 6 Nieces, Koatiki Baker, Deidre Kirkland, Nickeya Stewart, Sherrilyn Baker, Katie Gibson, Yaushica Johnson and a glorious host of cousins, relatives and forever friends.