Obituary for Mrs. Karen Campbell

CAMPBELL, Mrs. Karen - Age 69, passed away Wednesday, February 23, 2022, in Raleigh, NC. Family hour 1:00 PM Thursday, March 10, 2022, from the Chapel of Lawrence Moon Funeral Home, 906 W. Flint Park Blvd., with funeral service commencing at 2:00 PM. Interment Sunset Hills Cemetery, G-4413 Flushing Rd. Friends and pallbearers will assemble at the funeral home 1:00 PM Thursday. Mrs. Campbell will lie in state in the Chapel of Lawrence E. Moon Funeral Home and may be viewed during family hour only. Our Beloved KAREN ROSALIE (STEWART) CAMPBELL went home to Jesus on February 23, 2022, at age 69. Karen was born to Walter C. and Adrienne C. (Smith) Stewart, Sr. on February 17, 1953, in Flint, Michigan (Genesee County). Being the 2nd oldest of 6 children, Karen loved and protected her younger siblings. It was second nature for her to be a caretaker due to her familial responsibilities. Known fondly as Katy, she was a lover and a fighter when she needed to be. She was a family-oriented being. Karen met her husband, Jerry Campbell, in 1969 in the Cafeteria of Flint Central High School. She won his heart when he first laid eyes on her. Experiencing her upbeat attitude, gorgeous smile and quick wit, Jerry began following Karen home for a few months until she finally allowed him to carry her books and walk her home regularly. As their relationship blossomed, they realized they had similar dreams and goals which included raising a sizeable family and pursuing entrepreneurship. God began honoring their goals and dreams as they moved to North Carolina and married on March 8, 1975, going on to raise four beautiful children. Karen was a nurturing mother and pioneering businesswoman. Through prayer, love and encouragement, Karen and Jerry raised their children to go on to become entrepreneurs, educators, community leaders, servants, artists, soldiers, and so much more! Her loving heart and belief in “the village” also lead her and Jerry to accept guardianship over their beloved niece, Angela Liscomb – helping to raise her into a beautiful mother and entrepreneur herself. In 1989 she was acknowledged by the local news station in North Carolina for birthing her youngest son Kenneth after birthing her oldest child Jerry Jr. naturally and birthing Adra and Preston via C-section which was unheard of during that time. Her bravery which was fueled by her strong support system would encourage other mothers to have natural births even after having a C Section.

Beyond motherhood, Karen was an enterprising and successful businesswoman. For over 30 years, Karen used her exceptional business sense, talents, and compassion – inherited from generations past – to serve her community. With a heart full of service to others she co-founded Christian Realty, Inc. and Miracle Mortgage. It is through these honorable endeavors she was able to assist many members of her community obtain their dream of home ownership. In addition to being the 1st African American (in the triangle of Raleigh, NC) to receive the distinguished CRS designation among other honors. Karen’s service was due to her unique ability to champion portfolios with challenged or undeveloped credit. Instead of the typical more lucrative route, Karen’s heart led her to specialize in helping those that would otherwise be forgotten or preyed upon. In many ways she was a warrior for the people. Another one of her greatest accomplishments was founding You-Fed-Me, Inc. which is a non-profit which she grew with Jerry for over 30 years. You-Fed-Me provided faith-based programs for numerous prison facilities. The purpose of You-Fed-Me is to offer hope and assist the incarcerated and formerly incarcerated in becoming fully reintegrated members of society. Many volunteers and participants lives have been forever enriched due to their experience with You-Fed-Me, Inc. Before God called Karen to glory, her final assignment was working with the Small Business Administration. During this assignment, Karen used her experience and talents to look out for applicants that were overlooked or improperly decisioned. She unselfishly worked many hours as she knew that her efforts and interventions were actually changing lives. She laughed and cried with applicants as they thanked her for her efforts. She was helping struggling businesses bounce back from the financial ruin of the pandemic. Karen went above and beyond and even reached out to friends and family to make sure they were aware of the possibilities available for their businesses. So many of them are grateful to this day for her consideration as they were able to benefit and progress from her input and guidance. In her short time with the SBA, Karen was promoted and elevated numerous times due to her great service and focus – she was highly regarded. To know Karen was to love her striking smile, warm heart and willingness to make sure all those that were in her presence felt love. Every year, Karen would make it her business to send reminders to her children to wish any and every family member she could think of a happy birthday. Karen was deeply loved, appreciated, honored, admired and the epitome of a servant of God. She spent her last moments surrounded by love and serving in a manner that pleased the most high. When you think of her last moments, you can smile while you imagine her getting ready for bible study with her family. When God called her name, she simply laid back on her bed and into the embrace of God. She was at home where she was loved and safe. Karen’s spirit will live on through her loving husband, all of her children and all who had the pleasure to know her. We will continue to honor her memory. She has left behind a legacy of greatness, integrity, beauty, love, compassion and servitude in the manner that has honored God. Karen joins those who preceded her to heaven: Parents, Father, Walter C. Stewart, Sr., and Mother, Adrienne C. (Smith) Stewart; Paternal Grandparents, Lilburn E. Stewart, and Lillian B. (Wade) Stewart; Maternal Grandparents, Frank S. Smith, Sr., and Rosalie D. Smith; Paternal Aunts: Deborah Dorcas, Hattie Blair, Mattyanne Edwards, Mittie W. Johnson, and Connie A. White. Maternal Uncles Marvin Smith, Frank S. Smith, Jr., Julius R. Smith, and Maternal Aunt Margaret A. Gladney. Karen is survived by her devoted husband of 46 years, Jerry Campbell, Sr., Son – Jerry Campbell, Jr. (Courtney) (and special edition to the family, Sonny – a baby Pitbull); Daughter – Adra R. Campbell; Son – Preston E. Campbell (Dominique) (2 grandchildren: Makenna; Maleah); Son – Kenneth A. Campbell; Brother Bishop L. Earl (Veronica) Stewart, Sr.; and Sisters Cheryl M. (Stewart) Wilson; Rita R. (Guy) Franklin, and Kimberly M. (Mance W.) Broome, Sr.; Special cousins, Janice E. Smith and Lyria Carroll, along with many more precious nephews, nieces, great nephews, great nieces, cousins, family and friends.

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