Rev. Andrew Dewitt Stokes, Sr. was born December 23, 1932, in Durant, MS. He was the fourth of eight children born to the late Reverend Willie Brown Stokes, Sr, and Roxanna Hendrix Stokes. He was baptized at Wade Chapel CME Church while attending Shady Grove Elementary School and Ambrose Middle School in Lexington, MS, and then graduated from The Piney Woods School in Piney Woods, MS.
In 1953, he enlisted in the US Army, where he served at Fort Lee, VA, attended the Quartermaster School, and continued his service at Fort Polk, LA. Upon his Honorable discharge, he received the National Defense Service Medal: Good Conduct. He was a proud member of the American Legion MS Post 202.
Rev. Stokes was united in holy matrimony to Christine Mayfield in 1954, when they immediately began their family and relocated to New Orleans, LA. He worked as a Longshoreman on the New Orleans Dock at the River Front until Hurricane Betsy forced relocation to Durant, MS. He dedicated his life to caring for his family, farming, fishing, hunting, and ministering to all he met.
Rev. Stokes attended ministry school through the Christian Methodist Episcopal Church, where he was ordained in 1983 and served under Elder J. Y. Trice through 1999 as Pastor: Brown Chapel, Lee Chapel, Love Chapel, St. Paul, Hebron Chapel, Ebenezer, Hopewell, Taylor Chapel, West Hill, Center, Rice Chapel, and Wade Chapel. After his retirement, he enjoyed traveling the US with his children and grandchildren while visiting family.
Rev. Stokes’ most recent retirement years were spent at the AZ State Veterans Home in Phoenix, AZ, where he was known as ‘Papa Stokes.’ He won the affection of all by handing out nicknames to everyone and sharing his chocolates. He enjoyed a relaxed pace, soaking up the sun, phone and virtual visits with family neighbors, and eating fresh fruit, homemade muffins, soup with cornbread, and strawberry milkshakes. A peaceful death embraced him after a full day of physical therapy, activities, and a long nap.
Rev. Stokes was preceded in death by his loving wife, Christine Mayfield Stokes; siblings Willie B. Stokes Jr., Annie Wright, Bertha Stokes, Daisey Robinson, Prescott Stokes Sr., and Lawrence Stokes, Sr.; and grandson, Saicardo Stokes.
He leaves to cherish his memory: sister Mable Maxwell, sister-in-law Lillie Mae Stokes; 8 children: Arnetta (Terry) Smith, Naydean (Phillip) Rozell, Andrewetta Montgomery, Andrew Jr. (Felicia) Stokes, Cassell (Alice) Stokes, Manuel (Corliss) Stokes, Stephanie (Michael) Desiderio, and David (Toscha) Stokes; a heap of grandchildren, a ton of great-grandchildren, a growing group of great-great-grandchildren and a host of relatives and friends.
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