Jessie E Stewart

Colonel Jessie Earl Stewart passed away peacefully on March 26, 2024, in Cary, North Carolina, at 89. He was a wonderful father, grandfather, and husband. Jess was born on March 10, 1935, in Trumann, Arkansas. Jess grew up on a small farm growing cotton with his two brothers and two sisters. He joined the ROTC program to help pay for college and was on the rifle team at Arkansas State University. After graduating from college in 1956, he received a commission into the Army as a Second Lieutenant and began a 30-year career as a military officer.

Jess and Freida, the love of his life for 62 years, met in Clarksville, TN, while Jess was training at Fort Campbell, KY. They married in September 1961. After their daughter, Paige, was born, Jess was assigned to Vietnam in 1967 as Commander of the 170th Helicopter Company. He took part in some of the most challenging years of the war, including the battles of Dak-to and the TET Offensive. Jess received many awards and medals for his bravery. He received the Silver Star for rescuing United States troops under intense enemy fire while piloting his helicopter. Soon after he returned to the United States, Jess was assigned to the American Embassy in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo (formerly Zaire). He flew small fixed-wing planes across the continent for reconnaissance. Jess had many interesting positions during his Army career. He had two assignments in Korea and Germany and was stationed at many army bases in the United States. His favorite military job was as Project Manager for the Apache helicopter during its design phase at the Pentagon in Washington D.C. After Jess retired from the Army, he used his military experience to manage the city of Hartsville, SC, for over 20 years.

Jess always stayed physically fit, partly due to his military training but also because he enjoyed exercise. Jess spoke French and German, played golf, and was a self-taught guitar player who loved music. He taught Sunday school classes and was a church deacon at West Hartsville Baptist Church for many years. After retiring as Hartsville’s City Manager, Jess moved to Cary, NC, to be close to his daughter and her family. He was a wonderful grandfather. “Granddaddy” gave the best piggyback rides. He sang and played the guitar to help his grandsons fall asleep. He camped with the Boy Scouts, attended band concerts, and watched Jared and Zachary perform in the marching band at North Carolina State football games. Jess lived at Searstone Retirement Community and was cared for at Brittany Place for the final years of his life.

Jess is preceded in death by his parents, Jessie James Stewart and Mary Wyoma Huskey of Jonesboro, AR; and his siblings, Ann Baker of Stephensville, TX, Lou Render Harris of N. Augusta, SC, Jim Stewart of Lockport, IL, and Asa Stewart of Burns, TN.

He is survived by his wife, Freida Smith Stewart; his daughter Paige Everson, son-in-law Albert; and grandsons, Jared and Zachary of Cary, NC.