Mary Carolyn Thomas Stewart

Mary Carolyn Thomas Stewart, age 87, died Oct. 27, 2010, at LaRocca Nursing Home. Graveside services will be 11 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 30, 2010, at Tuscaloosa Memorial Park with the Reverend James Lee Winter officiating and Heritage Chapel Funeral Home & Cremations, a Dignity Memorial Provider, directing. Visitation will be 10 a.m. Saturday at Heritage Chapel Funeral Home.

Carolyn Stewart was the daughter of the late Ralph Cage and Chamintney Stovall Thomas. She was preceded in death by her husband of 45 years, Edward Howard Stewart.

Survivors include her daughters, Mary Stewart Hamner (George Fleming, Jr.) of Tuscaloosa and Ruth Elizabeth Winter (The Reverend James Lee) of Starkville, Miss.; and her son, Charles Thomas Stewart (Ann) of Pittsboro, N.C. She is also survived by her sister, Lois Thomas McGarity (The Reverend Owen) of Austin, Texas; her brothers, Dr. James H. Thomas and Dr. Joab L. Thomas (Marly) of Tuscaloosa; 13 nieces and nephews; and numerous great-nieces and nephews.

Carolyn was beloved by her grandchildren, James Lee Winter, Jr. (Elizabeth) of Somerset, United Kingdom; Mary Elizabeth Winter VanSlyke (John Bura III) of Biloxi, Miss.; Sarah Grace Winter Riebau (Dr. Derek) of Nashville, Tenn.; Edward Jacob Winter of Jackson, Miss.; Benjamin Marshall Stewart, Charles Jefferson Stewart, James Daniel Stewart, Hilary Stewart Cissokho (Lamine) of Pittsboro, N.C. She was the great-grandmother of Stephen James and William Edward Winter, Lily Carolyn, John Bura IV, and James Lee VanSlyke; and Mary Abigail and Margaret Rose Riebau.

Mrs. Stewart was born in the home of her grandparents, William Henry and Martha Langston Thomas, in Ashby, Bibb County, Ala. on August 30, 1923. She grew up in Thomasville and Russellville, Ala., where her father was Superintendent of Education. During her undergraduate years at Alabama College (later The University of Montevallo) she met her future husband Edward Howard Stewart. In the summer following his graduation from Auburn University in 1943, he was inducted into the Army. They were married on June 17, 1944, in the Chapel of Camp McCoy near Madison, Wis. By the end of the summer, Edward was a platoon leader in the South Pacific, and Carolyn returned to Alabama College, where she graduated in June 1945.

Following the War, the Stewarts lived in Decatur and Russellville in North Alabama. They moved to Tuscaloosa in January 1952, where Carolyn began graduate studies at The University of Alabama. She received her Master's Degree in 1957 and joined the faculty of the School of Home Economics as an Assistant Professor in the Department of Clothing, Textiles and Design. She taught basic design, display and craft. She was an accomplished artist, whose work included mosaic patterns created with ceramic tile beautifully arranged on table tops and cabinets. She initiated the study of mosaic tile designs in the curriculum at the University.

In 1971, Mrs. Stewart was named Chairman of the Department and served until her retirement in 1985. She received the Walter R. Guyton Award in recognition of her lasting contributions to the quality of student life. Serving as Director of the Gorgas Home, she gave many hours of dedicated service to maintaining that historic residence. During her tenure she greatly increased the University's collection of historic costumes and, upon her retirement, was honored with the naming of the Carolyn Stewart Historic Costume Collection.

A member of Delta Kappa Gamma, Education Honorary, Mrs. Stewart served in leadership positions with the American and Alabama Associations of Home Economics and contributed to the growth of the Arts in Home Economics movement. A member of the American Historic Costume Association, she traveled to England to visit costume collections. She was active in the Tuscaloosa chapter of Business and Professional Women, Zonta, Qui Vivre, and the First Baptist Church. Her social clubs included the Sybarites, Tuscaloosa Study Club, and the Clionian Study Club.

Mrs. Stewart enjoyed entertaining family and friends and was known for the warmth and charm of her home. Her own lovely oil paintings graced the walls of her home.

Pallbearers will be her grandsons and nephews.

The family expresses gratitude to the staff at LaRocca and to her faithful caregivers Eunice Lavender, Adrianna Ba, and Earnestine Smith. It is suggested that memorials be sent to Christ Episcopal Church, 605 Lurleen Wallace, Blvd. North, Tuscaloosa, AL 35401, or a charity of one's choice.