Eric was welcomed into the world on May 4, 1966 by his parents, Joe and Dorothy Stewart, as well as his brothers and sisters in Forney, TX. He accepted Jesus as his Lord and Savior at an early age. The change that Jesus made in Eric’s life gave him a sense of belonging, a purpose for living, the desire to please God, and the guarantee that he would go to heaven when he died. He grew up in Forney, graduated from high school, and attended college at Southwestern University in Georgetown, TX. He transferred to The University of Texas at Austin in 1986 and met Amy Douglas at a Bible study at Campus Crusade for Christ on the UT campus. Eric graduated from UT Austin in 1988 with a bachelor’s degree in Journalism. He married Amy in 1991 and welcomed one son (Douglas) in 1999.
Eric had a variety of jobs including working in UT Austin Admissions, being a full-time Youth Pastor at Cornerstone Baptist Church in Elgin, TX, and most recently working with a great group of people at Realtor.com.
Eric loved sports and supported his favorite teams: the Dallas Cowboys, the Dallas Mavericks, the Texas Rangers, and the UT Longhorns. He was also a fan of Star Trek, Star Wars, The Avengers, and several Marvel movies.
Eric was serious about his relationship with God and intentionally pursued activities that would help him grow closer to God as well as help others in their walk of faith. He believed that Jesus is the Way, the Truth, and the Life and no one comes to the Father, except through Jesus. He also believed that whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved. Those beliefs motivated him to remain committed to his church activities at Bethel Baptist Church until his failing health prevented him from being able to do so. Those service opportunities at the church included being a deacon, teaching an adult Sunday school class, singing special music solos, singing duets with Amy, singing in the worship team, and supporting whoever was teaching Wednesday night Bible study. Eric loved God and his family. Eric loved people. He trusted his life in the hands of The Lord Our Shepherd.
He is preceded in death by his maternal grandparents: James and Annie Oliver; his paternal grandparents: James Stewart and Pernela Stewart; his dad: Joe L. Stewart, Sr.; his sisters: Kimberly Stewart and Marilyn Alexander; one brother: Carl Stewart; his mother-in-law: Bennie Ruth Douglas; one sister-in-law: Ava Calvin; four brothers-in-law: Robert Calvin, Gregory Garrett, Rev. Ernest Holloway, and James “Sonny” Jackson; his close friends in Austin: Paul, Jr. & Annette Gardner, Cheryl “Penny” Gardner, and his best friend, Paul “Skip” Gardner.
If you would like to make a donation in honor of Eric’s life and ministry, you can make checks payable to Bethel Baptist Church to help the church continue to reach out in faith, hope, and love to make disciples of Jesus Christ. You can contact the church staff at 512-346-4770.
