Lavert L. Stuart

Lavert Stuart Obituary Lavert Levin Stuart was an extraordinary classical musician, jazz artist, pipe organist, pianist, music teacher, and choir director. He was a church musician for more almost 60 years and served as minister of music at a number of congregations in Northeast Ohio. Lavert passed away on June 27, 2024 at the age of 78. Lavert was born on August 23, 1945 in Cleveland, Ohio. He attended Miles Standish Elementary School, where he took piano lessons and inspired by his grandmother, later learned to play the pipe organ. He attended Empire Junior High School and graduated from John Adams High School. He was the first in his family to go to college and earned a scholarship to Ohio University, where he majored in pipe organ. After graduation from college, he moved to Chicago and while working for the Board of Education, played at several churches, and studied organ with Edward Mondello, the University Organist and the University of Chicago. While in Chicago, he received a recommendation for the New England Conservatory of Music in Boston, where he studied for two years. While in Boston, he contributed to the fabric of the community both musically and culturally. He served as the musical director at the First Congregational Church in Weston and played his graduation recital at the historic Old West Church. Culturally, he helped develop Boston’s Black Heritage Trail. On September 19, 2010, Boston City Council honored him for “providing spiritual leadership through music ministry, for providing community service in the Cities of Boston and Cleveland, and for his significant commitment to developing interest and knowledge in Black history and culture.” Boston is also where Lavert developed as a jazz musician. At the New England Conservatory, he studied under Gunther Schuller, who was then the president of the music school. He further developed as a jazz artist playing in clubs in Cape Cod and on Martha’s Vineyard. Once back in Cleveland, he returned to his home church Mt. Zion Congregational Church where he served as the organist and choir master. He also served as the director for the Sutphen School of Music at the Phyllis Wheatley Association. And during the 1980’s, he continued to play jazz at many clubs and restaurants including Cleveland’s Sweet Water Café and Mantell’s in Willoughby. In the theater, he played as a conductor-pianist for productions with Karamu House and the Ensemble Theater. He performed with Karamu’s production of “Langston” at Lincoln Center in New York City and as a featured pianist in Philip Hayes Dean’s biographical play “Paul Robeson.” In 1996, he began his long relationship with Antioch Baptist Church as the church organist. Pastor Emeritus Reverend Doctor Marvin A. Mickle was once quoted as saying “His ministry of music has been a blessing to me,” “Lavert Stuart has been our local version of the Music Man.” His music was his ministry. It was not unusual for Lavert to show up at a hospital, nursing home or someone’s home to play comforting music. He also volunteered his time at McGregor home, where he played piano in the dining hall. Over more than the last twenty years, Lavert had a relationship with the Christian Science Church in Rocky River, where he served as the church organist and a minister of music. Up until the time of his homegoing, he could be heard playing his signature piece, the Carillon de Westminster, written for the organ by the French composer Louis Vierne. Lavert Stuart served and played in many churches from Mt. Zion Congregational to the Old West Church in Boston to the Cathedral de St. Trinity in Port au Prince, Haiti to University Circle United Methodist Church to Antioch Baptist Church of Cleveland to Christian Science Church of Rocky River and many more. He was preceded in death by his mother, Odette Britton, father, Abner Vance, and sister, Judith Warr. He is survived by his sisters, Marjorie Robinson, Deborah Brown, Angela Vance, and brothers, Abner Vance, Jr., Reverend Duane Britton, Desmond Jamison, and a whole host of nieces, nephews and cousins. To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Lavert L. Stuart, please visit our floral store. Read More

Lavert L. Stuart

August 23, 1945 - June 27, 2024