James B. "Bill" Stewart Sr.

Funeral Services will be held 2:00PM Wednesday 1/18/23 at Walthall Baptist Church in Walthall, MS with burial in Walthall Memorial Cemetery. The Graveside/Committal Services will be held at Walthall Baptist Church instead of Walthall Memorial Cemetery. Visitation will be 5:00PM until 7:00PM Tuesday 1/17/23 at Oliver Funeral Home and 12:30PM until 2:00PM Wednesday 1/18/23 at Walthall Baptist Church. James B. "Bill" Stewart, Sr. passed away at home near Walthall on Monday, January 16, 2023. He was born on March 19, 1934, to Joseph Walton "Doc" Stewart and Jimmie T. Beck Stewart on the Beck Farm between Cadaretta and Alva, MS. He graduated from Springhill School, despite a life-threatening illness during his high school years. He became an Industrial Engineer at Futorian furniture plant in Eupora, while also farming, raising cattle, raising a family and tending a large garden. Funeral Services were held 2:00PM Wednesday 1/18/23 at Walthall Baptist Church in Walthall, MS with burial in Walthall Memorial Cemetery. Rev. Hugh Bland and Rev. Willy Weddle officiated the services. Pallbearers were; Hunter Crowley, Dale Dalton, Ricky Dalton, Brad Holloway, Phillip Lewis, and Jeb Sisk. Honorary Pallbearers were: Deacons of Walthall Baptist Church and their wives. Mr. Bill is survived by the love of his life, Marvie Jean Gore Stewart. Set up on a blind date by mutual friends Lillian and Junior Rogers, they developed an incredibly supportive and loving relationship that covered 64 years of marriage. They raised and enabled two red-headed children, Belinda and James, with compassion, support and love. He was a great role model - faithful, kind and gentle. Bill was an extraordinary father, grandfather, and great-grandfather. He was incredibly proud of his children, always teaching, encouraging, and celebrating them. After years of babysitting and bragging on his grand dogs, his first grandchild, Mary, became a constant companion. He loved taking her to see the cows, to ride down thrill hill in the pasture, and generally taking her anywhere she wanted to go. Life became even sweeter with the arrival of two more granddaughters, Sadie and Sherry, who lived right beside him and Marvie. He was enthralled with the latest family member, his great-granddaughter Anniston. He loved his family unconditionally, taking every opportunity to care for them and to show them how much he loved them. Bill quietly loved order and organization. He liked for things to be in their place. He loved animals, raising cows for decades - lovingly naming each one and grieving over the ones that were sold each year. A long line of family pets has always been part of the family - most recently with the loving chihuahua Penelope - "P" - who was always by his side, taking care of Papaw. Bill was preceded in death by his parents, Joseph W. "Doc" Stewart and Jimmie T. Beck Stewart, and his sister Jamie Stewart Dalton. He is survived by his sisters Betty Stewart Bollis of Eupora and Joy Anne Stewart Johnson of Byrum, brother Jimmy (Donna) Stewart of Walthall, daughter Belinda Jean Stewart (Michael Davidson) of Walthall, son James Billy (Tabitha) Stewart, Jr. who lived beside Bill, granddaughter Mary Stewart Davidson (Hunter) Crowley of Ecru, granddaughters Sadie Ranae Stewart and Sherry Sisk Stewart, and great- granddaughter Anniston Leigh Crowley. He is also survived by a host of nieces and nephews, and life-long friends from his many years of working at Futorian and serving as a deacon at Walthall Baptist Church. The family requests memorials be made the Walthall Baptist Church, P. O. Box 366, Walthall, MS 39771