R. Edward Stewart: Durham Business Pioneer And A Man For All Seasons Has Passed
Durham, NC – Richmond Edward Stewart, President of UDI/CDC, passed on November 1, 2020. Funeral services were held on Saturday, November 7 at Saint Joseph AME Church, where he served as a Trustee. According to the Fisher Memorial Funeral Parlor website, Stewart was preceded in death by his parents as well as his wife, Eunice Stewart, daughter Denell Stewart, sisters Ernestine Joy and Christine Page. He leaves to cherish his memory one daughter, Cheryl Stewart (Fiancé Herb Andrews), two nieces Valeria Jean Jones and Katrina “KK” Joy, two nephews Joe Larry Wilson and Reginald Joy, Goddaughter Sya Mayes, special friend Carolyn Pugh, and a host of relatives and friends.
In lieu of flowers, the family desires that contributions be made to his alma mater via the NCCU Foundation, Inc., to support the NCCU Athletics Department. Please make checks payable and mail to NCCU Foundation, Inc., 1801 Fayetteville Street, Durham, NC, 27707; please write NCCU Athletics Stronger Together -E. Stewart on the memo line of the check. You can visit the Ways to Give page at www.everyeagleeveryyear.org. Click Athletics Stronger Together (in drop down box) and in the comment box enter E. Stewart.
Spectacular Magazine named Stewart “Spectacular Magazine 2015 Man of the Year” in the Business and Economic Development category. At that time Stewart was asked what legacy he would like to leave behind. He said, “As I look at the development of UDI/CDC projects throughout Durham, NC, I hope others will see and have a certain sense of accomplishments that occurred while I served as President of UDI/CDC. If they experience a positive impact behind those accomplishments, that will be my legacy.”
Richmond Edward Stewart was born on August 29, 1929, in Durham, NC. “Ed” grew up in the Hayti community. He attended Durham Public Schools and graduated in 1947 from the all-black Hillside High School, before entering North Carolina College at Durham (now North Carolina Central University). After earning his Bachelor of Science degree in 1952, he went on to serve in the United States Army during the Korean War. After service, he returned to NCC earning his Master of Science degree in Business Education in 1958.
In 1955 he married Eunice Ethridge. To this union two children were born, Cheryl and Denell.
Ed was actively involved in the church, and community endeavors. Prior to embarking upon his life’s work and passion, he was an educator at J. W. Ligon High School (Raleigh, NC) and later at the Durham Business College. In 1966, he joined Operation Breakthrough as Director of Manpower Programs until January 12, 1968. He embarked on a career as Director of a new project funded by the Office of Economic Opportunity and the Economic Development Administration in a program entitled “Project Outreach.”
In 1974, Ed began a noteworthy career with United Durham Inc., where he spearheaded significant projects focused on economic uplift and sustainability in the Durham community. Most notably has been the organization’s oldest and largest project in southeastern Durham that consists of a 91-acre UDI Industrial Park.
Additional UDI accomplishments include UDI Resource Center, St. Joseph’s Place, a renovated office building as well as a group of affordable housing at Old Five Points, and the Food Lion grocery store on the corner of Pilot and Fayetteville Streets, a shopping area that now carries Ed’s name.
Much of Ed’s success has come because of his work ethic and leadership style that is described as “cool-headed, down-to-earth, a skilled negotiator and one who was extremely focused.” As an accomplished business executive, he recognized a need in the community and sought to fill it.
Ed was a member of the St. Joseph A. M. E. Church where he served as a trustee. His present and past involvement, over fifty years in the Durham community, represents memberships and leadership positions with the Association of Community Development Corporations, the Durham Business and Professional Chain, the St. Joseph’s Historic Foundation, Inc., and the North Carolina Institute of Minority Economic Development (the Institute).
Ed served his alma mater North Carolina Central University with distinction as a Trustee from 1995 to 2003 and from 2005 to 2009, including a term as chair of the board from 2002-2003. Ed was awarded Trustee Emeritus status for his years of service as a “life-long community builder.” He was also a member of the Durham Alumni Chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc. (served as Polemarch from 1987 to 1989), the Alpha Tau Boule, Sigma Pi Phi Fraternity, and the National Association of the Guardsmen, Inc. – Durham Chapter.
In the same interview with Spectacular Magazine, Stewart summed up his life’s goal. “While I don’t expect to solve them [problems or conditions], my major interest in creating and promoting opportunities for those who have been oppressed and denied because of the color of their skin and/or their nationality.”
Ed, “His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!” Matthew 25:21NIV