Anna Stillman

Anna Marie Askew Stillman was born to Clarence Melvin Askew, Sr., and Ernestine Bertha (Wilson) Askew on March 22, 1939, in Kansas City, Kansas. She was the eighth of nine children. She was raised under the loving care of Superintendent Pratis E. and Missionary Alice B. Henry from the age of 12 until she married. She attended KCK Public Schools and graduated from Bonner Springs High School in 1957.

The same year, she married the love of her life, Superintendent John Edward Stillman, and they built a Godly and loving family with their three daughters: Anita Marie, Sheila Kaye, and Regina Louise. They traveled for decades to White Cloud, Kansas, where she served as First Lady of Foster Memorial COGIC and also the Superintendent’s Wife of Atchison District in the Kansas East Jurisdiction COGIC. After the demise of her husband, she faithfully continued carrying on the work of that church alongside Mother Grace Cruse and under the pastorate of her daughter, remaining steadfast until 2012.

Mother Stillman was an ardent worker in both the church and community. She was licensed an Evangelist Missionary under Mother Emma Mason, and served in the capacity of Kansas East Jurisdictional Secretary of the Women’s Department under Mother Emma Mason, the Jurisdictional USAC Secretary under Dr. James B. Boyer, and the Jurisdictional Secretary of the Pastor’s & Minister’s Wives Circle under Mother Faye McDonald. Other duties throughout her church work included Sunday School Teacher, YWCC President, Hospitality, and lastly on the Mother’s Board at Mt. Zion Church of God in Christ.

Known as trustworthy and reliable in her neighborhood, she was called upon yearly to collect for the various agencies: Cancer Society, Leukemia Society, Heart Association, Multiple Sclerosis, Muscular Dystrophy, Cystic Fibrosis, March of Dimes, and the Census. She was also employed as the Supervisor of Food Service at Central Kitchen for the KCK Public Schools. She was PTA President for many years, even when her children were no longer there.

Anna never met a stranger, and she loved cooking, music, working with the youth, and hospitality. She is affectionately known by many of the young people as “Mama Stillman” across the country where she had traveled.

Anna was preceded in death by the love her life, John; her grandson, David Ryan Edwards; her parents; siblings Charles, Clarence, James, Roger, Clara, and Nathaniel.

She leaves to celebrate her life and carry on her legacy: her daughters, Anita (Maynard) Harvey; Sheila Miles; Regina Stillman; sisters, Ethel Jordan, Whittie Askew, and Pamela Roath; brothers, Horace (Doris) Askew, Clifford Spencer (brother/cousin); seven grandsons, Bradley Williams, Kendall Betts, Timothy Edwards, Jonathan Betts, Stephon (Carmen) Betts, Nicholas (Shelly) Betts, and Tyrone Buskey; three granddaughters, Keisha Jones, Stephanie Harvey, Joi Harvey; great-grandchildren, Jaemis Betts, Langston Betts, Shaun Betts, Kia Ross, Dominique Jones, Monique (Cameron) Young, Steve Jones, Jr., Tia Jones ; great-great grandson, Malcolm Young; and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, play children, family and friends.

Funeral Services will be held at 11am on Monday, February 8th at Watkins Heritage Chapel 4000 Emanuel Cleaver Blvd KCMO 64130. Visitation 10am. Interment Highland Park, KCK.

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