Uncrowned Community Builders

Genevieve Stenhouse, more affectionately known at "Gen," is the second of four children to Lofton and Robertha Stevenson. Her parents hailed from South Carolina, however, she was born and raised in Buffalo, New York. She was educated in Buffalo Public Schools, and attended Buffalo State Teacher's College where she earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Elementary Education in 1974, a Masters of Education degree in Reading in 1976, and an Elementary and Reading certification also in 1976.

A member of Pleasant Grove Missionary Baptist Church for over 50 years, Genevieve has held several lay and ministerial leadership roles. As a faithful member of the Senior Choir, she has held the offices of President, Secretary and Treasurer. She has also been Directress of the Board of Christian Education for most of her membership at Pleasant Grove. In 1995, the pastor asked Genevieve to institute Saturday Bible classes for individuals aged five through adulthood. The classes, which run September through May, have been instrumental in helping Pleasant Grove members to embrace and live the word of God not only on Sundays, but through their daily lives.

Genevieve and Thomas, her husband of over fifty years, met as youngsters when they lived in the downtown section of Buffalo, and attended the same neighborhood elementary school and church. They married at an early age. Thomas worked two jobs while attending college to provide a good quality of life for his family. Genevieve supported her husband's efforts by maintaining their home, working part-time jobs while the children were in school and carefully developing and maintaining the household budget. Her faith in God and country led her to begin buying United States Savings Bonds early in their marriage for the family's education. Their consistent, payday additions to this nest egg helped them fund their children's and Genevieve's baccalaureate education programs, without the need for student loans.

Genevieve currently resides in Buffalo with her husband of 54 years, Thomas Henry Stenhouse. She is the mother of Robert Lee Stenhouse (Phyllis), Dr. Thomasina Rochelle Stenhouse, and "son-in-love" Dennis Dixon. She has numerous grandchildren including Derek Lewis Stenhouse (Yolanda), Shannon Rochelle Stenhouse and Robert Devin Stenhouse; and she is the great-grandmother of Ebone Danielle Buggs, Maxine Rachel-Rochelle Stenhouse, Miles Thomas Stenhouse, and Makenzy Noel Yvonne Stenhouse. Genevieve is proud of the fact that her children and grandchildren are all college graduates. Together the family has earned twelve post-secondary degrees, plus one professional certification. Formal education, achievement, and service are values that have been passed down from generation to generation in the Stenhouse family.

In addition to her role as Directress of the Board of Christian Education at Pleasant Grove Missionary Baptist Church, Genevieve served over fifteen years as a reading specialist and elementary teacher in the Buffalo Public School System. She referred to her charges as "darlings" and they knew they were her beloveds. I Thessalonians 5:11 says "Therefore encourage one another and build each other up." Encourager is a term that characterizes Genevieve's relationship with her students. "Go ahead, you can do it!" was the mantra in her classroom.

Genevieve's favorite saying is: If you make one step, God will make two. Her favorite scripture is Psalm 121. Armed with her faith in God's word, she has weathered several of life's storms valiantly, with seemingly increasing strength, and to the benefit of all who know her.