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ZERNONA STEWART BLACK
On the morning of January 24, 2005, ZerNona Stewart Black slipped away quietly to be with her heavenly
father. Born in Muskogee, Oklahoma, to James and Juanita Wooten Stewart, little ZerNona experienced tragedy
at a young age. When she was just a few months old, her mother died suddenly. ZerNona went on to graduate
from the public schools of Muskogee and furthered her education at Emerson College in Boston, Massachusetts,
where she received a bachelor's degree in speech and education. She later pursued graduate studies at the
University of Colorado, Indiana University, Our Lady of the Lake University, and Trinity University.
As a young girl she gained an appreciation for entrepreneurship while observing her father open his own
outdoor "colored" movie theatre and tailor shops in Oklahoma and New York City.
Early in her career, ZerNona taught communication, drama, speech, radio, leadership development, and
physical education. She later taught those same classes while serving as the head of the drama department at
Langston College, a historically black institution in Langston, Oklahoma, before coming to San Antonio. Years
later, she also taught on the faculty of St. Philip's College.
ZerNona moved to San Antonio from New York in the early 1940s after accepting a three-month assign-
ment by the YWCAto run the San Antonio USO for Black Military. She soon met Rev. Claude William Black, Jr.,
and in 1946 they were married. What was to have been a three-month stint ultimately became a sixty-year love
affair with South Texas, and San Antonio, in particular. She went on to receive numerous honors, awards, and
recognitions for her work in the community and in her beloved Mount Zion First Baptist Church.
She shared her love and compassion with individuals in the San Antonio community and worked diligently
to improve the lives of its older citizens. In demonstrating her concern for seniors, she envisioned the first multi-
service center for the elderly, located in the then-East Terrace Housing Project. Pursuing her passion for reach-
ing out to others, she later served as Executive Director of the Senior Opportunity Services (SOS) at Roseville
Apartments, a project of the Alpha Tau Omega chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. She co-founded
Health, Inc., a day care agency for the elderly; the San Antonio chapter of Jack and Jill, Inc.; and the San Antonio
Mothers Service Organization. She was a two-term chair of the Pine Street YWCA and served as Supervisor of
Youth Work for the National Baptist Convention of America. She also found time to volunteer with the National
Council of Negro Women.
ZerNona's patience, love, and concern were heaped upon the congregation of Mount Zion First Baptist
Church, where she was the First Lady for 49 years. Having a very active life with the Church, Sis. Black served
as a Sunday School teacher and a Vacation Bible School instructor to scores of young children. She worked
diligently with the Ministers, Deacons, and Trustees' Wives Council, headed the Church's drama ministry, and
served as Chairlady of Women's Day. She brightened the lives of all the members with whom she came in con-
tact.
A woman of great style and substance who was a tower of strength for her activist husband and children,
she was dubbed "Miss Personality" by the late Rev. J.J. Rector, Sr.
She was preceded in death by her son, James Stewart Thomas; daughter, Joyce Matthews; grandsons,
Jay Stewart Thomas and David Thomas; granddaughter Herkemba Matthews, and sister, Edwina Hayes.
She is survived by her loving husband of 58 years, Rev. Claude William Black, Jr., grandson Claude Wil-
liam Thomas (Elizabeth) of New York, NY; grandson Taj Ian Matthews (Cheryl) and granddaughter, Chantey Mat-
thews of Jacksonville, FL; granddaughter-in law, Geralde Thomas of New York, NY; a cousin, Dr. John Q. Taylor
King of Austin, TX; eight great grandchildren, Deasia Matthews, Taj Omari Matthews, and Montero Brooks of
Jacksonville; David Thomas, Deja Thomas, Kiara Thomas, Elijah Thomas, and Jakail Thomas, all of New York,
NY; a sister-in law and brother-in law, Milton and Marietta Deas of Chicago, IL; special caregivers, Billie Wilson,
William Flores, Mrs. Cortes; LaDell Mellieon, and Vastine Pendergraph; a host of loving relatives and friends; and
a church family who will always cherish her memory.
