About Funeral Director Lydia Stewart  -  When her father passed away in 1997, Ms. Lydia Stewart and her brothers took over the family business. When her brothers lost interest in the operation, she took the next step to continue her father’s legacy by adhering to his standard of excellence. She couldn’t imagine her father’s name being on a business that was operated by strangers. Ms. Stewart is very passionate about what she does. She loves being independent, and being able to help people at a time they need it most. Ms. Stewart says, “If you love what you do you will succeed. But if you’re just in it for the money, you won’t succeed." Although being African American can be a barrier to attracting other nationalities, Stewart’s Rose Manor has been very successful in reaching out to customers of every culture. “The key is to understand the subtle differences in practices and preferences.” Although the business was inherited, her title is most deserved and well earned. 

Ms. Stewart is a graduate of the University of California at Berkeley. She has performed graduate studies at the University of California Los Angeles and also at the University of San Francisco Law School. She has taught English to middle  and high school students for both West Contra Costa and Los Angeles Unified School Districts.  Also being schooled in the performing arts, she has taught Drama and Dance at the East Bay Center for Performing Arts in Richmond, California.

Some of Ms. Stewart's honors and awards are as follows:

• 2001 "Woman of the Year" by the Business and Professional Woman's Federation
• 2002 "Young Funeral Director of the Year" by the California Funeral Directors Association
• 2003 honored for her contribution to African American Entrepreneurship by the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People
• 2003 honored by the Phylaxis Society for Bucks/Business in the four B's award program
• 2003 honored as a "Woman of Distinction" by Soroptimist International

Ms. Stewart serves on the Board of Directors for the California Funeral Directors Association.

She is a member of The Rotary Club of Richmond, California.  She is also a member of the Order of the Eastern Star Ashlar Chapter #47.  Her motto is "Keep God the main focus in life and everything else will fall into place".