Jaaden Steward's Obituary
Jaaden Diondre Steward fell asleep in death on April 7, 2024. Jaaden was born May 2nd, 2002, in Hackensack NJ to James Steward and Janira Moore. Jaaden is the younger brother to Jordan Steward and older brother to Jeremiah Steward and Janiya Brooks.
Jaaden was a happy fun-loving child as you would expect from anyone having the nickname “Porkchop.” As a toddler, he was not much of a talker, but his mother always understood Jaaden’s needs. It was like they had an inside link with each other. As a child Jaaden’s calm, compassionate, and loving ways were nurtured and encouraged by his mother. He was always easy to manage and very happy as long as he had a chicken bone in his hand or mouth. He was always willing to help his mom, whether it be cleaning, cooking, making scrapbooks and dancing around the house to all types of music.
As he grew into a man, he would become known to many as the “Gentle Giant.” This is a tribute to his kind and compassionate personality that remained as he grew into adulthood. Although the “gentle” part did not apply when Jaaden was playing offensive and defensive line on the flag football field. Jaaden favorite sport however was basketball, he often would state he wished his father did not have “bad knees” so he could play alongside him as he did with his older brother Jordan. Jaaden loved spending Ume with family and friends whether that be being the third wheel on date nights with his dad and stepmom, eating, laughing with “his boys” and most importantly dancing.
Laughing, wrestling, and roasting sessions with his brothers brought him much joy. Jaaden was honored to be his big brother Jordan’s “best man” at his wedding in February 2022. He also had a special bond with his younger brother Jeremiah whom he shared many of the same interests, spiritual goals, and the love of sports. At times he enjoyed picking up his baby sister to watch a movie or experience some other fun outing with her. He liked to cook his favorite dish Pollo Guisada which he loved for his mom to cook for him as a child. He called it his “comfort food!” He also mastered making large pans of Mac and Cheese which he learned to cook from his father. When stepmom Tiffany Steward joined the family on April 13th, 2019 Jaaden finally had a similar personality to his in the house. They were able to connect and talk in ways that were different from his fathers and brothers and this helped Jaaden to have confidence in himself and to take “positive” chances that would help him grow. Tiffany also awakened in Jaaden an interest in travel. For his HS graduation gift, he went on his first cruise with his family and also enjoyed his first trip out of the country for his younger brother’s HS graduation. He planned to travel much more in the future for spiritual activities as well as leisure enjoyment.
One thing that Jaaden’s father often did, was to regularly sit and talk with Jaaden to draw out his feelings and thoughts. As Jaaden became a young man, he comfortably grew to discuss many things with his dad including spiritual goals, secular employment, sports, and even sometimes a sister or two that he thought was cute. Jaaden was affectionately referred by his dad as “his favorite;” because his often more compassionate qualities were different from his dad and the other two boys. Ironically, Jaaden said he didn’t like being called “the favorite” because he felt like he got fussed at the most. Jaaden’s loving and compassionate personality helped to round out his dad and brothers by helping them to tap into their feelings and not take things so seriously. Jaaden was the only one to ever go and play golf and go fishing with his father, although neither of them were good at it. He would also love to sit with his dad talking around the firepit and would often joke that if Jordan “the firefighter” was here he would fuss that the fire they built was too big.
Most importantly, from a young age Jaaden had a spiritual focus. This was evidenced when he symbolized his dedication to Jehovah by water baptism on October 10th, 2014, at the age of 12 years old. In the 21 years of Jaaden’s life, he lived in 3 different states and was an active member of 9 different congregations. In every congregation that he attended the dominant description of Jaaden was that he was kind, considerate, and caring from childhood into young adulthood. He was always seen as a person who smiled and was willing to encourage and upbuild everyone. He was a preacher in the field ministry. Several times throughout the year he would increase his activity in the field ministry as an auxiliary pioneer. His love for Jehovah and people drove him to share the good news of God’s kingdom whether it was informally or in the organized field ministry work (Door to Door and Local Cart witnessing.)
In the Summer of 2022, he was approved to share in the SMPW (Special Metropolitan Public Witnessing) work, which he thoroughly enjoyed. A recent trip to New York in December 2023 to spend Ume with his Aunts + Uncles fueled Jaaden with a desire to do more in Jehovah’s service. In reaching out for more opportunities to serve Jehovah he set Bethel service as a goal. His first steps for reaching that goal were taken when Jaaden was appointed as a ministerial servant in the Northlake Congregation of Jehovah’s Witnesses in January 2024. Jaaden always took his assignments in the congregation seriously whether that meant cleaning, yard work, Kingdom Hall maintenance and carrying out meeting assignments. Jaaden’s life is highlighted by his many accomplishments, both spiritual and secular. He graduated from Lake Norman Charter High School of Huntersville, NC on July 13th, 2020. After high school he went on to attain a technical diploma in the field of HVAC (heating, ventilation, and air conditioning) from Penn Foster College. He then successfully attained his EPA certification which qualified him to handle additional responsibilities in the field. This in turn led to his recent employment by Charlotte Mecklenburg school system as an HVAC Technician. In a short period of Ume, his director commented that Jaaden had made a positive impact on the entire HVAC department. This was due to his strong work ethic and the ability to work well with his team.
Jaaden is preceded in death by his maternal grandmother Kathy Simms and his step-grandfather Bruce Carter. He will be missed by his father and stepmother, James, and Tiffany Steward; mother, Janira (Seneca) Moore; siblings, Jordan (Haley) Steward, Jeremiah Steward, Janiya Brooks; grandparents, James Steward, Nancy Steward, Miriam OrUz, Wilfredo Romero, Joyce Carter; Best Friends Micah Hughes, Nasir PinkeP; and a whole host of aunts, uncles, cousins, spiritual brothers, spiritual sisters and friends.
James Funeral Home, of Huntersville, is serving the family and obituary lovingly written by the family.
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