By Kelsey Palmer

kpalmer@jacksonvilleprogress.com

For a man whose profession and passion put him in a position to lead others, calling Dr. Norman “Lee” Stewart of Jacksonville influential would still be an understatement.

Before passing away Nov. 21, 2009, Stewart, born April 4, 1963, in Kilgore to Ray and Nancy Stewart, was not only a preacher for the Jacksonville Church of Christ for the past eight years, but a full-time assistant professor for the Secondary Education and Educational Leadership Department at Stephen F. Austin State University. For the past six years, he touched the lives of the members of his congregation and his students alike.

According to 19-year-old David Warren, 2008 Jacksonville High School graduate and apprenticing preacher under Stewart at the Church of Christ, this couldn’t be more true.

“I basically grew up with Lee and his family so he was like a second father to me. I’d have to say he was one of the biggest influences on me just by seeing the way he led his life, not only Sunday after Sunday, but outside of church as well,” Warren said.

Through studying the Bible together and spending time with Stewart, Warren said his mentor taught him an abundance of life lessons and how to overall become a good man.

“Through my experiences with him, I learned a lot of things, like leadership skills and how to communicate with people better. He just really had a way with people, and by listening to him, it helped me look at things in a different way,” he said.

Rather than lecture to his class or congregation, Warren claims Stewart spoke to people as a means to improve their lives.

“He could stand before the congregation and by the end, you could tell he genuinely cared about your soul. He could talk about anything and people would listen,” he said.

Stewart had been a minister in Arizona and New Mexico before moving home in 1991 to Jacksonville, where he was the minister of Southside Church of Christ. Later, Stewart began preaching at the Jacksonville Church of Christ when it was founded in 2001, and had been there ever since.

Though Stewart was deeply interested in church, he was also involved in an array of activities at SFASU, including the dissertation committee for candidates in the school’s principal preparation program. He would occasionally leave Warren or preacher and church member Robert Burns to minister to the people.

“Lee was a people person and once of the nicest men I’ve ever known. He was a loving, giving and multi-talented man and I’ve never heard anybody say a word against him,” Burns said.

“His death was a tragedy and a real blow to the congregation. We all loved Lee and he will be deeply missed,” he added.

Warren is currently attending the University of Texas at Tyler and plans to transfer to Austin as a pre-med biology major. He has been preaching under Stewart since he was 16 years old and plans to preach part-time as much as his career will allow.

“Lee was passionate about anything he did, especially helping people. When he wanted to accomplish something, he did it at full force and at the best of his ability and I really respected that. He set an example by the way that he acted and I will always remember that,” he said.

Funeral services for Stewart are scheduled for 10 a.m. Nov. 25 at Autry Funeral Home Chapel in Jacksonville, with Stewart’s brother-in-law Mike O’Neal, Warren and Burns officiating. Burial will follow at Pleasant Grove Cemetery in Maydelle.

He earned a Bachelor of Business degree and his Master of Educational Leadership degree at SFA, and his Doctorate in Educational Leadership from Baylor University. He was a full-time assistant professor at SFA for the past six years.

He is preceded in death by his grandparents J. W. and Nonnie Stewart, grandmother Ruthie Strickland, father-in-law G.W. O’Neal, niece Ellen O’Neal and uncle Alonzo Seymore.

He is survived by his wife of 27 years, Sandra Stewart of Jacksonville; parents, Ray and Nancy Stewart of Jacksonville; daughters, Amanda Kay Stewart and Amy Lee Stewart of Jacksonville; brothers, James Stewart of Corsicana and Paul Stewart and wife Maggie of Rusk; mother-in-law, Glennis O’Neal of Zavala; brothers-in-law, Stan O’Neal and wife Joellen of Houston, Mike O’Neal and wife Nancy of Wichita Falls, and Kenneth O’Neal and wife Lisa of Houston; and several nephews, nieces and cousins.

Pallbearers will be Roger Warren, Stan O’Neal, Kenneth O’Neal, Ed Bruce, David Stewart, Mike Beard, Lyndon Holmes and Tommy Griffin.

The family will receive friends from 6 to 8 p.m. Nov. 24 at Autry Funeral Home.