Rev. Dr. Stephanie Denise Castro was born on April 23, 1969, in Boston, Massachusetts, to Albert Kinnitt, Jr. and Shirley Kinnitt Billings. She departed this life on August 6, 2023, in Boston, Massachusetts, surrounded by family and friends.

In her childhood years, she attended Lexington Public Schools, where she graduated in 1987. She attended the University of Bridgeport in Connecticut, where she earned a bachelor's degree, with a concentration in Marketing, in 1991, followed by a Master of Science Degree, with a concentration in Education, in 1992. Rev. Dr. Stephanie graduated as Valedictorian of Payne Theological Seminary where she obtained her Master of Divinity degree in 2011.  On December 3, 2022, Rev. Dr. Stephanie received an honorary Ph.D. in Business Administration and a Certified Coaching Certificate, from the Trinity International University of Ambassadors in Atlanta, GA. It is an honor that she held dearly.

Rev. Dr. Stephanie was a lifelong educator.  She was a proud teacher, both locally and internationally.  She served in a variety of schools, including the Patrick F. Gavin Middle school from which she retired.  Teaching in both the Randolph and Boston Public School systems, Dr. Stephanie served faithfully as an S1/S2 English Teacher and Year Head at the prestigious Cedar Bridge Academy in Bermuda, for nearly six years. Prior to her demise, she served as an Instructional Coach at the Orchard Gardens Pilot School in Roxbury, Massachusetts.

Rev. Dr. Stephanie Castro was ordained an Itinerant Elder in the AME Church on March 10, 2012, by the Right Reverend Bishop Carolyn Tyler-Guidry at the 126th Session of the Bermuda Annual Conference. Her ministry has spanned 24 years, three annual conferences, and four churches: The Historic Charles Street AMEC in Boston, her home church; Vernon Temple AMEC in Bermuda; Fellowship AMEC in Syracuse, NY; and Grant AMEC in Roxbury. At each church, she was adaptable and supportive, operating effectively various capacities in service of the church and community.

On November 4, 2006, Rev. Dr. Stephanie was blessed to marry the Rev. Dr. Pedro Angelo Castro, Jr. This was a day she would never forget; for truly, God sent her a gem, and an additional blessing to share a blended family of 3 children: Khaivon, Chantelle, Jasmyn, and two grandchildren, Skylah, and Camren. Rev. Pedro was assigned the pastoral charge of Vernon Temple AME Church in Southampton, Bermuda at the seat of the First Episcopal District, Christian Education Congress in Dover, Delaware. Upon Rev. Stephanie's arrival at Vernon Temple AME Church, she was appointed as the Minister to Children, Youth and Young Adults, where she served with power and grace! She also served on the Ministerial Team. Together they designed a marketplace ministry that focused on family, education, business, community services, and government. "Power Breakfast," a morning devotional service held daily at Cedar Bridge Academy Secondary School from 7:15 – 7:45 am, grew tremendously; and more than 200 students were blessed by this daily morning devotional experience. Rev. Dr. Stehpanie assisted with the establishment of a registered Bermuda Government nonprofit entity, the Village Pride Community Center (VPCC), which hosted a Monday through Friday after-school tutorial program in the church's fellowship hall and the Reverend Erskine D. Simons Administrative Building. She also served as President of the Christian Women in Action Ministry, where she worked tirelessly with a team of women to expand the mission's reach to host several in-home study groups that were led by various church leaders who felt called to impact other women in and beyond the church. This strategy grew the number of women being exposed to weekly Bible study to more than 40 participants throughout the week. Reverend Dr. Stephanie was affectionately known as the Elect Lady of Vernon Temple AMEC. She warmed the hearts and spirits of Vernon Temple AMEC and the Island nation of Bermuda. Her charismatic smile and energy ignited a flame that continues to burn bright.

In June of 2012, she returned to Boston to pursue her career with Mary Kay Cosmetics after her 6-year teaching contract ended.  The Reverend Dr. Stephanie wasted no time getting back in the swing of the business, naming her new unit "Chosen," earning a new vehicle and ascending to the ranks of Unit Director.  She earned her first pink Cadillac in May 2015.  Reverend Dr. Stephanie ultimately earned eleven vehicles throughout her Mary Kay career, including two pink Cadillacs.  More recently, she was promoted to the rank of Senior Executive Sales Director.  She enriched the lives of hundreds of men and women across the United States, Bermuda, and Canada!

Mary Kay Cosmetics is a faith-based business founded on the principles of God First, Family Second and Career Third; and without a doubt a perfect match for Reverend Dr. Stephanie as an anointed woman of God predestined to succeed.

When Reverend Dr. Stephanie returned to the United States to pursue her Mary Kay dream and help prepare the family's eventual return, she suggested that she and Pastor Castro launch a daily prayer call to maintain their marital and spiritual connection while apart. Pastor Castro agreed, and "Pink Power Prayer" (PPP) was birthed. Using the "Chosen Unit," and supporters, God refined and inspired men and women to join on Monday through Friday at 6 am for the study of God's Word and intercessory prayer. For nine years, this prayer call ministry became an integral part of their ministry in the Western New York Conference; and in June of 2013, an assignment to Fellowship AME Church in Syracuse, New York. The faithful members of Fellowship AME Church embraced "Operation 12 BOWS (Blessing Others with Surplus)" as they organized gleaning teams to pick surplus fruits and vegetables on seven area farms. The surplus was transported by truck and trailer into the Syracuse community, where the church was located, and given to more than seven-hundred families. Over fifty-three thousand pounds of produce blessed the tables of families in need.

After serving six faithful years as a Consultant in the Western New York Conference and the Elect Lady of Fellowship AME Church in Syracuse, they were assigned to Grant AME Church in Roxbury, Massachusetts. Together they continued to serve as a team bringing transformational ministry to the City of Boston. "Pink Power Prayer" was renamed "Fuel for the Soul;" and it continues to function as a spiritually healthy ministry that reinforces the church's vision at Grant AME Church. The vision is Prayer, Worship and the Study of God's Word. It does not yet appear what God has in store for His people in the City of Boston and the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Reverend Dr. Stephanie's infectious personality helped to fuel the renaissance at Grant AME Church. In four years, the church has corrected serious infrastructure issues and vendor challenges.

In March 2021, Reverend Dr. Stephanie was diagnosed with triple negative breast cancer. While the journey was filled with many ups and downs, the joy Elect Lady exhibited gave her strength and inspired others! As a result of her journey, Rev. Dr. Stephanie was able to share how her faith made her unstoppable through a trial; and as she took pen to paper, she submitted her first published work in a bestselling anthology, "Your Faith Will Make You Unstoppable." Her solo book project entitled, "This Joy I Have: Discovering Joy on the Mountaintop and in the Valley," will be released in the coming months.  This summary of life was written by Rev. Dr. Stephanie Castro as she went through her battles with cancer.

Reverend Dr. Stephanie D. Castro overcame sin and sickness in this world, for eternal life with God. She leaves the following family members to carry on and celebrate life:

Her loving husband, Reverend Dr. Pedro A. Castro, Jr. of Buffalo, New York; her loving parents, Mrs. Shirley Kinnitt Billings and Mr. Albert Kinnitt, Jr. both of Boston, Massachusetts; Stepmother, Mrs. June Kinnitt of Boston; Mother-in-law, Clara Castro of Buffalo; Son, Khaivon Brown Kinnitt Castro of Boston; Daughters, Chantelle Clemencia Castro of Atlanta, Georgia and Jasmyn Rose Castro of New York, NY; Brothers, Darnell Billings (Lissette) and Phillip Billings both of Boston; Sister, Sheila Billings of Boston; Sisters-in-law, Angelina Castro of Buffalo, and Tabitha Hairston (Carl) of Silver Springs, Maryland; Grandson, Camren Castro of Atlanta; Granddaughter Skylah Stefani Castro-Colon of Boston; Aunt Etwinda Murphy of Georgia; Godparents Mrs. Hazel Fulks of Boston, and Mr. and Mrs. Jerry Robinson (Cecelia) of Boston; Godchildren, Tahlia Denise Guzman and Anthony Thibodeaux of Boston, and a host of cousins, nieces, nephews, and other relatives and friends.

Reverend Dr. Stephanie Denise Castro:  Entered into the mansion God custom designed for her to reside for all eternity.  Amen.