[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 179 (Tuesday, November 13, 2018)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1516-E1517]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  IN RECOGNITION OF MRS. SARAH STEWART

                                 ______
                                 

                      HON. SANFORD D. BISHOP, JR.

                               of georgia

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, November 13, 2018

  Mr. BISHOP of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, it is with a heavy heart and 
solemn remembrance that I rise today to pay tribute to an outstanding 
businesswoman, dedicated public servant, mentor to many, and 
compassionate philanthropist, Mrs. Sarah Stewart. Sadly, Mrs. Stewart 
passed away on Tuesday, October 23, 2018 at the age of 83. The funeral 
service was held on Thursday, November 1, 2018, at 2 p.m. at the 
Stewart Community Home in Columbus, Georgia.
  At the age of fifteen, Sarah, already an accomplished homemaker, 
married Harold Stewart, an airman, and traveled with him to his various 
assignments. Their family would later expand with the arrival of their 
six children. As a military family of eight, the Stewarts found time to 
serve as active volunteers in their communities, once heading three 
Girl Scout troops simultaneously.
  Sarah's passion for service and philanthropy continued during her 
career as a midwife in the Philippines, an operating room supervisor in 
the Raiford Prison Hospital, and an active parole volunteer for VISTA. 
After serving at Raiford and reuniting with her father who was living 
in poverty, she was inspired to open a ``boarding care home'' to help 
people in similar conditions who were medically or financially 
ineligible for nursing home care. During one of her many visits to her 
mother in Columbus, Georgia, she spotted an ancient, deteriorating home 
at 1400 Third Avenue that she wanted to rent and renovate. Everyone 
thought she was crazy to rent this home because of the extensive damage 
and the costly repair required to fix it. Nevertheless, Mrs. Stewart 
did not allow the opinions of her critics to deter her vision. In April 
1976, (a month after obtaining the property) and with the help of 
family and the manager of the rental property, she opened ``The Home 
for Senior Citizens'' (now The Stewart Community Home), the first 
boarding care home in the community.
  Over the years, the Stewart Community Home expanded to include 
several homes throughout the Columbus area. Then, on April 30, 1994, 
when Columbus native Dorothy (Dot) Wells Knight died, the Knight 
Foundation, Inc. honored her by making a substantial donation to the 
Stewart Community Home, her favorite charity. This allowed for the 
purchase of the Edwina Wood School and sparked a nearly two million 
dollar renovation project, allowing for the housing of seventy-six 
residents.
  Maya Angelou once said, ``A great soul serves everyone all the time. 
A great soul never dies.'' Sarah Stewart was one such great soul, who 
served humanity in a special way. Each day she graced the people around 
her with an enthusiastic sincerity of presence. Her legacy on this 
earth extends beyond herself to those whom she inspired and supported. 
For her selfless dedication to others, she will always be remembered.
  Sarah accomplished many things in her life but none of these would 
have been possible without the enduring support of her husband, Harold; 
their children, David, Harold, Jr., Charles, Carolyn, Ruth, and Teresa; 
and the countless others who positively impacted her life over the 
years.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join my wife Vivian and me, along 
with the more than 730,000 people of the Second Congressional District, 
in paying tribute to Mrs. Sarah Stewart, for her outstanding legacy of 
service and philanthropy as we extend our deepest condolences to 
Sarah's family and friends. We pray that they will be consoled and 
comforted by an abiding faith in the Holy Spirit in the days, weeks, 
and months ahead.

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