In the early morning hours of May 21, 2021, at home, Reverend Hubert C. Stewart died at the age of 91. He will be dearly missed by his wife, Joey, of 65 years.
Hubert was born in Sparta, Illinois to Rev. Robert W. and Helen Stewart in 1930. He received his bachelor’s degree from Bob Jones University and his Masters in Theology from Westminster Seminary in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1955. He married Joan that same year. They had two children, Randy and Teri.
Survivors include son, Randy L. Stewart and his wife, Beverly, of McKinney, Texas; daughter, Teri Lancaster and her husband, Brad, of Southside, Alabama; four grandchildren: Amber Garrett and husband, Brannon, of Peachtree City, Georgia; Brandi Lancaster of Peachtree City, Georgia; Benjamin Stewart and wife, Christina, of Chattanooga, Tennessee and Laurie Stewart of North Hollywood, California; four great-grandchildren: Hunter Richardson, Braden Garrett, Bella Lancaster, Maria Stewart and a brother, John Stewart, of Greenville, South Carolina.
He is preceded in death by parents, Robert and Helen Stewart, brother, Rev. Carl Stewart, and great-grandson, Eli Garrett.
Through the course of his life, Rev. Stewart pastored seven churches scattered around the Gulf Coast states including Pearl Presbyterian Church in Pearl, Mississippi; Carolina Presbyterian in Carolina, Mississippi; First Presbyterian in Philadelphia, Mississippi; Associate Pastor of Carrollton Presbyterian in New Orleans, Louisiana; First Presbyterian in Enterprise, Alabama; Eastside Presbyterian in East Gadsden, Alabama; and First Presbyterian in Russellville, Alabama.
He was self-publishing documents before computers were around to make it easy. This came in handy for the churches he pastored, but it was also something he enjoyed doing. Hubert put those skills to good use as clerk for Evangel Presbytery in northern Alabama for about twenty years. Through the years he headed several building projects for churches he was associated with and would want you to know that he always came in under-budget.
Hubert enjoyed stamp collecting and gardening. Upon retirement, he joined the ranks of Etowah County Master Gardeners. When he became their president, he made himself responsible for growing the annual sale to a big affair in Gadsden. Under his care they acquired the land for greenhouses, secured larger greenhouses and funded several scholarships for people going into agricultural professions.
As a pastor, he always had a clean joke ready to tell to anyone who would listen, the humorous twinkle in his eye and that little half-smile was recognized by everyone who knew him, as was the sweetheart rose on his lapel. When parting, he often told his grandchildren, “I’m glad you got to see me!”
He may have been short in stature, but he was tall in character. He was a man of his word. His integrity was more than show—it was the way he lived. Most of all, he deeply loved his Savior and would want you to know his Savior too.
And when I think, that God, His Son not sparing Sent Him to die, I scarce can take it in That on the Cross, my burden gladly bearing He bled and died, to take away my sin
When Christ shall come, with shout of acclamation And take me home, what joy shall fill my heart Then I shall bow, with humble adoration And then proclaim: “My God, how great Thou art!”
Funeral service will be at 1pm, Monday May 24, 2021 at Rainbow Presbyterian Church and visitation will be from noon until the hour of service. Graveside committal will follow at Rainbow Memorial Garden. Collier Butler Funeral Home will direct services. Pallbearers will be Brannon Garrett, Braden Garrett, Brad Lancaster, Hunter Richardson, Benjamin Stewart, and Randy Stewart. Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.collier-butler.com for the Stewart family.
