Rita Margaret Steele

Rita Margaret Lloyd Steele, 62, of Washington, DC, gained her wings on Wednesday, September 23, 2020 while at the George Washington Hospital.  She was born on June 9, 1958 in Aiken, SC, the daughter of Anna Laura Quattlebaum Jackson and the late Phillip Lloyd.

Rita was raised and attended school in the District with her mother and stepfather Robert Jackson.  At a young age Rita would travel to SC every summer where she spent time with her Aunt and Grandparents.  She graduated from Northwestern High School in Hyattsville, MD, Class of 1976.  She married Sidney Steele on May 31, 1977 in Washington, DC.  Rita then moved to Wichita, KS where she had her first two children and found her love for loving and taking care of others.  She later returned to Washington, DC where she had her third child.  Rita attended M.M. Washington School of Nursing and graduated with her LPN license in 1986.  Rita’s love for caring for others was well noticed and appreciated.  She worked as an LPN for 35 years, working for different doctors and facilities, 23 of them working for the DC Department of Behavioral Health St. Elizabeth Campus.  Rita had four more children.  She was an active figure in her community and in the church.  Rita loved her children, grandchildren, great grandson and family mor than anything in the world.  Her unconditional never judgmental love for her frie3nds, immediate, extended and all welcomed family will truly be missed.  Her favorite football team was the Washington Redskins.

Rita enjoyed reading good books, taking family vacations, having house parties that she could supervise  for our friends, sightseeing where she goes, museums and monuments old and new, paddle boating, cherry blossoms in the springtime and quiet evenings.  Rita enjoyed life and everything and everyone in it.  She was a woman of FAITH.   She was baptized at a young age and has always loved the LORD.  Her favorite saying is “Will a man rob GOD Yes he will. (Pay your Tithes) so you don’t rob him.”  Rita was an active member of the Greater Fellowship Baptist Church where she sang on the Praise Team and worked in the Food Bank where she took food to men who has families and no car but needed the extra  help.  She would jump out her car and save anyone in distress.  She was the community NURSE, SAFE HOUSE, PRAYER WARRIOR, ADVISER AND MOM.

Rita was preceded in death by her father Phillip Lloyd; her son Joshua Steele; siblings, Carolyn Daniels, Phillip Lloyd, and Alvenia Scarboro.

Rita peacefully transitioned into her eternal resting place leaving to mourn her passing her devoted children Sidney (Latisha) Steele, Ny (Willie) Steele, Montez (Alonda) Steele, Jonathan Steele, Jakeia Steele, John Steele and Omari (Barbara) Newell; her mother Anna Jackson; her grandchildren Zauria Steele, Sierra Steele, Montez Steele, Sidney Steele, Jermiah Steele,  Nykeia Martin, Alaina Steele, Alona Steele, Maela Steele, Ja’King Steele, Josiah Wood, Amia Owens and Justin Wood; her great grandson Micah Steele; her God Children Brienne Morgan Remy, Chanteious Friday, Benita Bowman, Trayon White, Zy’Novia Martin and Jamie Moore; her best friends Wanda Morgan and Wanda Jenkins; her sisters Connie, Ruby, Juanita(Billy), Helen, Donna, Rickie; her aunts Christine Morgan and Alma Dunbar; her uncles Willie Lloyd Jr and Joseph Lloyd; and a host of nieces, nephews, great nieces and nephews, cousins and other friends and extended family.  Rita will never be forgotten and always remembered.

“Faith is the substance of things hoped for the evidence of things not seen.”

Mrs. Steele will lie in state at Expectations Church, 11924 Braddock Road, Fairfax, VA 22030 on Friday, October 9, from 10am to 11am.

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