Lena Mae Stewart was born on January 1, 1945, in Sledge, Mississippi, to Rufus Brown and Adella Brown. Lena and her family uprooted their lives and moved to Chicago, Illinois, in 1949, with her five sisters; Thelma, Charlott, Ester, Grace, and Donna, and three brothers; Rufus, Jimmie, and Ralph. As a child, Lena is remembered as a feisty little firecracker who loved reading and was an excellent student. She excelled in anything she put her mind to, from softball to glee club, and being light on her feet as a dancer, she could do anything she believed she could.
Lena lived many different lives, from being a bartender who proudly did not drink to
being in the reserves, a truck driver, and working for the city. In 1970, Lena packed up
her two boys, Phillip Lang and William Lang, and moved to San Diego. There, Lena
lived her days as a mother, a staple in the community, a member of her church, and
eventually a grandmother and a great-grandmother.
Lena passed away on August 30, 2025.
Lena is survived by her two sons; Philip Lang and William Lang, her seven grandchildren; Tremel Lang, Ashley Lang, Taciana Lang, Trevon Lang, Breiana Lang,
Lauryn Lang, and Jayden Lang, and her five grandchildren, Cameron Kemp, Matua Lang, Elliot Lang, Serena Lang, and Ace Lang.
Lena Mae Stewart will be revered for her feistiness, fierce love for her family and
community, excellent cooking, and for how she used food to unite everyone. She will
forever live in the hearts and minds of us all, and her wise words, delicious recipes, and
beautiful light that she has reflected on us all.
