Richard M. Stewart Sr

Richard M. “Dick” Stewart – 93
Of Valdosta passed away Saturday November 20, 2021 in Lakehaven Nursing Home. He was born in Savannah, Georgia on December 7, 1927 to the late Grover Cleveland and Clyde Dodd Stewart. He lived in Valdosta most of his life, attending schools in Valdosta and loved playing Valdosta Wildcat Football under the leadership of Coach Bazemore in the 1940’s. He served in the U. S. Navy during World War II on board a mine sweeper. He was an avid tennis and golf player. He loved his family, loved the south and loved Valdosta.
He married his high school sweetheart, Katherine Phillips and they spent their honeymoon moving from Valdosta to Atlanta so he could work and attend night school. He graduated from Georgia State University with a BBA majoring in Accounting. As soon as he passed the CPA exam, he and Katherine returned to Valdosta to start their family and set up an accounting practice. They have three children, Richard M. Stewart, Jr., Suzanne Stewart Cox, and Kay Dooley.
He started out as a sole practitioner December 1, 1956. At the beginning he said he would walk down Patterson Street with his suit on, carrying an empty brief case, so he looked like he had clients. Later, he joined with Ronald Giles to form Stewart, Giles and Company on the corner of Patterson Street and Park Avenue. He purchased a computer in 1968 for data processing. It was so big that a large room was added to the building just to house it. He admitted many principals over the years and his firm continues to thrive as Fowler, Holley, Rambo and Stalvey, PC.
He held many offices in his profession including Chairman of the Georgia State Board of Accountancy and President of the local chapter of Georgia Society of CPAs. He was appointed by Governor Carl E. Sanders to serve on the State Board of Industry and Trade. He was the 1981 recipient of the first Public Service Award presented in Georgia by the Georgia Society of CPAs. He was honored by the AICPA Convention in Chicago as one of the 23 recipients in the nation.
He served as Valdosta Mayor Pro-Tem and Mayor of Valdosta in the early 1960’s. He served as President of Georgia Municipal Association – 8th Congressional District, Kiwanis Club, Civic Round Table, Valdosta – Lowndes County Apartment Association, and Toastmaster’s Club. He also served on the Board of Directors of Valdosta – Lowndes County Chamber of Commerce, USO, The United Way, The Boys Club, LARC and past chair of the Valdosta Country Club. He co-chaired the United Fund Drive with former Governor M. E. Thompson. He was a great advocate of Dale Carnegie’s business philosophy and he never met a stranger.
He is preceded in death by his parents, his dear wife Katherine, three brothers, Cleve Stewart, Charles Stewart, Tom Stewart and Bill Stewart as well as a sister Catherine Young; two grandsons, Andrew Bond and Stewart Demersseman.
He is survived by three children, Richard Stewart, Jr. (Sarah), Suzanne Stewart Cox (Randy), Kay Dooley and Glenn Dooley; eight grandchildren, nine great grandchildren, and two great-great grandchildren.
A private service will be held for the immediate family. Kind words and expressions of sympathy may be left for the family at www.musicfuneralservices.com . The Stewart family is being served by the professional and caring staff of Music Funeral Services of Valdosta.