Jacob "Jake" Franklin Stewart, 103, of Enigma passed away Wednesday, November 20, 2002, at Beverly Health Care in Tifton. His funeral service was held at 11:00 a.m. Friday, November 22, 2002, at Enigma Congregational Christian Church with the Rev. Martin Wilson and the Rev. Pete Jones officiating. Mr. Stewart was laid to rest at Enigma Cemetery.
Mr. Stewarts's grandsons-in-law, Larry Kennedy, Ted Cone, Mike Painter, Larry Hunted, Joel Driver and Tom Riddle served as pallbearers. Honorary pallbearers were Julian Abel, Bill Cranford, O. D. Owens, Ray Carpenter, Walter Strange, Bobby Sumner, James Stewart, Lloyd Fletcher and LeRoy Little.
Born March 5, 1899, in Enigma, Mr. Stewart was the son of the late Judge Harvey Stewart and Julia Tucker Stewart. He was also preceded in death by his wife of 70 years, Ethel Keiffer Stewart; and three sons, Harold Stewart, Pat Stewart and Eugene Stewart. He was a retired merchant in the retail industry; and he was a member of Enigma Congregational Christian Church, where he served as a deacon since the age of 28. He served several terms as Mayor of Enigma and also served on the City Council. He was a familiar sight riding his bicycle up to six miles a day at the age of 98. He had lived in Berrien County all of his life.
Mr. Stewart is survived by two sons and one daughter-in-law, Ray Stewart of Enigma and Donald and Evelyn Stewart of Athens; one daughter and son-in-law, Anita Stovall-Burch and her husband Lynn of Valdosta; a daughter-in-law, Dorothy Stewart of Tifton; ten grandchildren; sixteen great-grandchildren; and four great-great grandchildren.