Antoinette Benita Stokes

(Meaning “praise”)

She was born to Minnie Gunter Stokes and Clement A. Stokes, jr. on September 12, 1967. Always an independent, strong, and beloved daughter whose life can be summed up as too short to many. But for those of us who should be blessed to be touched by the understanding that her existence and the imprint she left on our hearts exceed the quantity of time that she stayed here.

Words overflow like a fount for our Antionette, a caring mother, daughter, sister, Godmother, and friend who lived a beautiful life from start to end. You’d find her enjoying music, shopping, watching Lifetime TV, and going to the beach, spending time with family and dining at her favorite restaurant. Antionette also shared an amazing legacy with her children, Danzel, Demi, and Danielle. But God called and she gained her wings on January 30, 2022, at 54 years of age.

Antionette was a lifelong resident of Washington. D. C. In 1985, she graduated from McKinley Senior High school in Washington, D. C., and began to explore alternative skills and occupations that would best suit her life goals. She began her career by working as an educational aide with the District of Columbia Public Schools. Later, and employed for over three decades, she worked for the District of Columbia government. She spent her early years with the D.C. Department of Motor Vehicles and then on April 3, 1989, she transitioned to the D. C. Department of Health where she held the position of Health Licensing Specialist until her death.

Antionette accepted Christ as her Lord and Savior and joined the Peace Baptist Church, under the leadership of the late Rev. Dr. Arie L. Mangrum, Jr. She was a member of the youth department and the junior usher board. Later she united with the New Samaritan Baptist Church, Washington, D. C., under the leadership of Bishop Michael B. Kelsey, Sr. and served as an executive assistant to the office of the bishop. Her favorite scripture, Philippians 4:13, “I can do all things thru Christ, who strengthens me”. Her unwavering faith in the Heavenly Father is the foundation upon which she built her life. She loved to entertain, congregate, help and support others. Her spirit was always upbeat – positive, cheerful, hopeful -- and was blessed by the many friends who joined her. She maintained a passionate and determined spirit, always with a “smile”. She will be remembered as a sociable and outgoing person, but particularly, a brave warrior who embodied courage.

We will miss our Antionette but her memory will forever be cherished by the loves of her life, her children, Denzel, Demi, and Danielle; her mother, Minnie -- who was her rock; her father, Clement A. Stokes, Jr (Arlene), her brother, Clement A. Stokes, III, who always thought he was her father; two sisters, Kiana and Laketash, three uncles, Rev. George Gunter (Joyce), Voyd Henry Gunter (Rosetta) and Sylvester Wayne Stokes; five aunts, Dorothy Sams, Ruth Gwynn, Lottie Williamson, Mary Weathers (Walter), and three God Children, Ola Omasere, Lauren Mason, and Daniel Pinkney, a God Brother, Kenneth O. Dugger and a host of other relatives and friends.

The Lord is my strength and my shield my heart trusted in him, and I am helped therefore my heart greatly rejoiceth and with my song will I praise him (Psalm 28:7)