Dr. Kimberly D. Merritt: A Legacy to Remember
A tribute written by her sister, Dr. Donna L. Stewart Jackson
Dr. Kimberly Diane Stewart Merritt was born July 4th, 1978 in Florissant (St. Louis), Missouri to the union of Robert Sr. and LaVern Stewart. Kimberly was the second of three children to this union. She transitioned from this life on Friday, April 10, 2015, in Lexington, Kentucky at the age of 36.
Kimberly, who was often referred to fondly as Kim, confessed her hope in Christ at the young age of 6, where she was baptized at the New Sunny Mount Missionary Baptist Church in St. Louis, Missouri on February 24th, 1985. Kimberly was an active member of New Sunny Mount all through childhood and adolescence, faithfully attending Junior Church serving as a Junior Usher and singing in the Children’s Choir. It is at New Sunny Mount, under the leadership of Pastor Reverend Donald Hunter, that Kimberly developed a passion to serve Christ.
During her early tender years of life, she attended Lee Hamilton Elementary School from Kindergarten to 6th grade. While in grade school, she was a proud member of the Girl Scouts, and served her community at the membership levels of a Brownie, Junior, and Cadet. She earned many badges and awards for her service. This was the start of Kimberly’s development of courage, confidence and character as a young girl that would prove instrumental to the fulfillment of God’s purpose for her life.
During her adolescence, Kimberly attended Berkeley Middle School and Berkeley Senior High School, proudly graduating with the Class of 1996. She was very active in extracurricular activities such as Student Council, serving in various elected leadership roles of her class and HI-STEP, a mentoring program where she mentored elementary and middle school students. In 1996, she received a scholarship award for her participation in the Blacks in Government Oratorical Contest, which she won at both the local and national level. She was a scholar athlete and participated on the Junior Varsity and Varsity Cheerleading Squads, Varsity Girls Basketball Team, and the Varsity Girls Class 3A Missouri State Championship Track Team. Kimberly was one of the top athletes on the track team, as well as one of the best prep athletes in the St. Louis area. She competed in the hurdles, sprints, and sprint relays. Kimberly proudly earned a Third Place Bronze Medal in the Girls Class 3A Missouri State Meet 300 meter low hurdles. She was a vital member of several Girls Class 3A Missouri State Champion Gold medal relay teams, including the 4x100, 4x200 and 4x400 meter relays. She assisted the Berkeley Senior High School Girls Track Team to win the 1993 and 1995 Girls Class 3A Missouri State Track Meet Title during her tenure at Berkeley Senior High, under the coaching leadership of Coaches Denise McField, Earl Whiting, Joe Moore and Rod Staggs.
Kimberly’s athleticism earned her an athletic scholarship to attend Southeast Missouri State University (SEMO) in Cape Girardeau, Missouri from August 1996 to August 2000. She earned her Bachelors of Science in Mass Communication-Public Relations. During her college years, Kimberly continued to develop her leadership skills and fulfill her call to service. In addition to maintaining a full course load, track practice and competitions, she made time to serve her college community through her membership in Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. She was initiated into the Omicron Pi Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. on April 27th, 1998.
Kimberly was also a top Division I student-athlete at SEMO. Her exceptional talent helped carry her team to 3 indoor and outdoor Ohio Valley Conference (OVC) championships: 1997, 1998, and 2000. Kim played a vital role in bringing home championships in the 4x100 meter relay and 4x400 meter relay, all 3 years as well. She proudly boasted of her team’s “7 time OVC” Championships and her role in assisting in this achievement.
After obtaining her Bachelor’s degree, Kimberly worked in the SEMO admissions department as an Admission Counselor from 2000-2003. She also began her course work on her Master of Arts degree in Higher Education with an emphasis in Administration, which she completed in May 2003. During this time at SEMO, she served as Campus Advisor for Omicron Pi chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.
In 2003, Kimberly accepted a position as Diversity Recruitment Specialist with the Diversity Office at Eastern Kentucky University (EKU) and relocated to Richmond, Kentucky. Kimberly also enrolled into a Doctorate Program at the University of Kentucky in Lexington to pursue her Post Masters Doctor of Education (Ed.D) degree in Education Leadership. Kimberly would later transfer to Eastern Kentucky University to complete her Ed.D in Education, Policy and Evaluation. Kimberly remained in her position as a Diversity Recruiter until 2005. During this time she met the love of her life, Harold Merritt Jr. They married on April 19, 2008 and established residency in Lexington, Kentucky.
In 2005, Kimberly accepted the position of Diversity Recruitment Specialist, with the EKU Department of Admissions and served in this role from 2005 to 2012. In 2012, she was promoted to Assistant Director for Student Recruitment in Admission, a position she served faithfully until her death. Kimberly was also in the final stages of completing her Doctor of Education degree, which will be awarded posthumously by Eastern Kentucky University in December 2015. In Kimberly’s professional role, she touched the lives of many students and staff, serving on various committees and in leadership roles designed to improve the quality of life of students as a teacher, mentor and advisor. Her professional goal was to become a Presidential-Dean Level Advisor for the University.
Kimberly was just as active in her community and the church, touching the lives of many through her community service and church ministry involvement. She was an active member of the Lexington, Kentucky Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. from 2003 until her passing. She served as chair and co-chair on numerous committees, playing an instrumental role in the organization of significant programs designed to serve the needs of the Lexington Community. She was elected 2nd Vice President of the chapter and served in this capacity from 2009 to 2011.
Kimberly was a Faithful Servant Christian Woman. Within her church community, she devotedly served as a member of the Praise Team, Dance Ministry and Marriage Ministry of Consolidated Baptist church in Lexington from 2004-2013. She and her husband then transferred their membership to First Baptist Church of Winchester in Winchester, Kentucky in 2013. Kimberly continued her involvement in the Dance and Marriage Ministry at First Baptist Church of Winchester, as well as assisted with the planning and organization of other church events and activities.
Kim was a true Woman of God. She wanted to reach as many people as she could to spread the message of salvation. In 2011, God called her to a work outside the walls of the church. God's vision for Kim was to minister to His glory in dance. God gave her the name “Simply Redeemed” for the dance ministry that she founded. As she prayed for guidance, God sent her four beautiful young women who were also called to glorify His name in dance: Kara Lewis, Toleka Simpson, Jaekeia Fuqua and Jovonda Williams. Together, these women minister to the masses, spreading God's message of redemption, love, grace and mercy. In 2011, Kimberly was also blessed with the opportunity to serve as an Operational Christmas Child Church Relations Specialist, which she passionately helped coordinate yearly to collect toiletries and gifts to send to other countries in boxed shoe boxes.
Because of Kimberly’s dedication in service to others, she received many awards, honors and accolades for her commitment to make a difference and minister the Word of God to others. One of her greatest honors was her election to serve as President of the Kentucky Association of Blacks in Higher Education, a two year term she served from 2013 to 2015. She also served as Vice President and in other capacities for this association previously. Kimberly Diane Merritt was indeed a phenomenal woman.
Early on the morning of April 10, 2015, Christ called home our beloved Kimberly and her newborn son, Harold W. Merritt III. She passed at the University of Kentucky Hospital Emergency Room and was followed in death by her newborn son. Our hearts grieve for this unexpected turn in her nearly full term pregnancy. Kimberly leaves to cherish her memory: her devoted husband, Harold W. Merritt Jr. of Lexington, Kentucky; her loving parents, Robert Sr. and LaVern Stewart of Florissant, Missouri; a sister, Dr. Donna L. Stewart Jackson (Stephen), nephew, Myles and niece, Arie Jackson of Omaha, Nebraska; a brother, Robert Stewart Jr. of Florissant, Missouri; a Grandmother and Grandfather, Charlie Sr. and Alice Stewart of East St. Louis, Illinois; Father in law and Mother in law, Harold W. Sr. and Madlyn E. Merritt, of Louisville, Kentucky; a sister in law, Candice Merritt, and nephew, Isaiah S. Joyner of Bethlehem, Pennsylvania; dear friend, Tiffaney Williams Buckley and godchildren, Jaden, Jordyn and Jaxyn Buckley of St. Louis, Missouri; godchildren, Braylen Hutchinson and Clarke Turner of Lexington, Kentucky. She also leaves behind a host of aunts, uncles, cousins, friends, sorority sisters, colleagues, church family, and students whose lives she touched in ways that only Kimberly could do.