Juanita Stevenson and Alease Grant have been welcoming worshippers for nearly 50 years
By Vannah Shaw
For the St. Louis American
A man that hath friends must shew himself friendly. – Proverbs 18:24
Juanita Stevenson and Alease Grant, two ushers at Prince of Peace MB Church, have definitely shown themselves friendly toward one another over nearly 50 years of ushering together.
“That’s my girl, there, that’s my girl,” Grant said of Stevenson. “What hurts her, hurts me.”
“She’s my sister. She’s been that close to me,” said Stevenson. “I had one sister. She passed, and she took her place.”
Stevenson has been ushering at Prince of Peace for about 43 years, and Grant 46. Both have become accustomed to the white shoes, uniforms and gloves ushers wear together, and they have lined up together in the communion line.
Stevenson and Grant have been doing things together in St. Louis for years; however, they were both born in Arkansas. Oddly enough, they did not become acquainted until they both moved to St. Louis.
“She is a city girl. I was born in the country,” said Stevenson, who was born in Backster, AK. Grant was born in Wabash.
“When the mail train came through, they hang it on the mail post, and they keep going,” Stevenson said, explaining just how small her hometown is.
They both stopped a minute to laugh at this memory.
Despite their different upbringings, both said they have similar experiences in church.
“I can’t see myself not being in church every Sunday. This is a fine church,” said Grant.
“It’s a need,” Stevenson said of church-going. Both said they started attending church as children, when it was a requirement, but eventually accepted it for themselves.
“After you got into it, you got interested,” said Grant.
Since their younger years in church, they have remained actively involved. They participate in feeding the hungry, working with youth, and attending Bible study and Sunday school together.
“They are almost always together as sisters, and have similarities like twins,” said Jannie Smith, a fellow usher. “Their lovely smile will give a visitor a warm welcome any day.”
Dr. Willie E. Kilpatrick is the pastor of Prince of Peace, located at 2741 Dayton in North St. Louis. The ladies say that he is one of the reasons they continue to come back to the same church Sunday after Sunday.
“He has good ideas, and they are practical,” Stevenson said of their pastor. “He teaches to everyone.”
Though Stevenson and Grant have had much involvement in the church, they are involved in the lives of many others as well.
Stevenson has been married for “30-something years.” She has six children, 17 grandchildren, and 7 great-grandchildren.
Grant is a widow, has two children, seven grandchildren, and one great-grandchild.
“They are both very modest in telling anyone about their many accomplishments,” said Smith. “They often serve in their community in whatever way they can.”
Smith describes the “lifetime friends” as “one of God’s most beautiful creations.”
Women seeking God
West Side Missionary Baptist Church, along with the Women of God Ministries, present their 6th Annual Women of God Conference on Friday, July 22 and Saturday, July 23 at the Radisson Hotel, 7750 Carondelet Ave. in Clayton. Special guests include: Pastor Jasmin Sculark, the Rev. Carolyn Wells and Minister Joyce Nance Johnson. Come and join other women as we seek the face of God. For information, call (314) 535-9002.
