CLEVELAND — Jeanette “Jay” Stokes will be laid to rest later this week. She was the widow of former Cleveland-area U.S. Rep. Louis Stokes.
Her family announced that funeral services will be held at the chapel of E.F. Boyd & Son Funeral Home at 2165 East 89th Street in Cleveland. Visitation will be held from 4-7 p.m. on Thursday with the funeral at 12:30 p.m. Friday.
Stokes' granddaughter Alex, a journalist at WJW Channel 8, confirmed her passing to 3News' Russ Mitchell on Saturday. Jay, 83, was remembered by her family as being "many things to many people and dedicated her life to others. Above all else, she would describe herself as a loyal wife and mother."
Louis and Jay were married 55 years until the congressman and activist died in 2015 at the age of 90. He paid tribute to his wife in his autobiography, finished just days before his death:
"To my beloved wife, Jay, who has been the bedrock for me through all the years in all I was able to do. The best wife a man could have. In memory of the complete and fulfilled life she gave me."
In lieu of flowers, the family is asking for a contribution to be made in her memory to the Alzheimer’s Association, Cleveland Clinic Hospice or University Hospitals Rainbow Babies & Children’s Hospital Division of Pediatric Cardiology.
“The family is overwhelmed with gratitude to all those who have expressed their love and support,” they said in a statement.
