Stella Meadors Elias Robertson, 97, of Louisville, KY., died on January 18, 2019. Stella was born in Corbin, Kentucky to Martha Kidd and James Melton Meadors. She moved to Louisville in 1939 where she met and married George Elias in 1942. Before owning her own businesses, she worked for the Masterson Family in their restaurant and for Seagram’s Distillery. Stella and George were partners in life and in business. They owned several race horses together and also George’s Market, the S & H Café, and George’s Food Bar, where they made many life-long friends. Stella enjoyed travelling to see their horses run and win. After retiring from George’s Food Bar, they enjoyed living in Audubon Park where Stella became an active member of the Audubon Women’s Club and Garden Club, the Moose Lodge, and the American Legion Auxiliary. She was a Kentucky Colonel and served as a Holy Communion Minister at St. Stephen Martyr Church. Her beloved husband George died in November, 1987 at the age of 70.
After George’s death, Stella volunteered at the Kosair Children’s Hospital, with the Audubon Garden Club and her church. She took computer classes at the University of Louisville, which only deepened her love for all things U of L. She loved dancing and travelling and took trips all over the country with her friends and her daughter Phyllis. She has also been known to enjoy visiting casinos in Kentucky, Atlantic City and Las Vegas. She married Edwin Robertson in 1990 who passed away from a heart attack the following year.
She was preceded in death by two sisters, Ethel Kelly and Myrtle Meadors, and by brothers Cy Meadors, Linville Meadors, J.B. Meadors, Andy Ledford Meadors, and Bluford Meadors.
Stella has two daughters, Phyllis Elias Schultz of Louisville and Janice Elias Birdwhistell (Terry) of Lexington. Two grandchildren George Shultz (Kristine) of Evanston, Illinois and Jessie Birdwhistell (John Christopher Smith) of Lexington. She has three great-grandchildren, Macy and Stella Schultz and Zoe Birdwhistell. She is also survived by her sisters Hazel Rich and Bobbie Ferguson and a brother, J.M. Meadors (Lorene). She is also survived by many nieces and nephews.
Throughout her life Stella enjoyed working and treasured her family. She never forgot all of the friends she made through work especially her customers at George’s Food Bar, through her involvement in community organizations, and by being an active member of St. Stephen Martyr Church. Her love for family and friends were the things in life she most cherished.
Visitation begins at 10:00 am until the service at 2:00 pm on Friday, January 25, 2019 at Evergreen Funeral Home, 4623 Preston Highway, Louisville, Kentucky. Burial will be at Evergreen Cemetery. Gifts in her memory may be made to St. Stephen Martyr Church, 2931 Pindell Avenue, Louisville, KY 40217.
