John Walton Stewart

John Stewart, 81, of Saucier, MS, passed away July 28, 2025, after a brief illness.

John was born on September 25th, 1943, to Donnie & Martha Stewart of Vaiden, Mississippi, along with his siblings Doris, Roy, and Frank. John proudly served as a US Army Ranger from 1962 to 1968, and in the fall of 1962, he met the love of his life, Carolyn Rushton, while she was in nursing school. They were married in August of 1964 and raised three children.

John earned a master’s degree in education in 1982 and taught as a professor of computer science at Hannibal LaGrange University. John was a pastor of several churches over the years and in 2001, John & Carolyn moved to Alaska to serve as missionaries. John & Carolyn retired to their home in Mississippi in 2015.

John & Carolyn loved to travel and visited many places around the world, especially the Holy Land in Jerusalem, Israel. He loved his church and will be remembered for his humor, warmth, and fellowship.

John is preceded in death by his son, James Stewart, and daughter-in-law Carra Stewart.

He is survived by his wife, Carolyn, and his children Sandy Caswell (husband Daron) and Jonathan Stewart (wife Toni). He has 5 grandchildren and 3 great-grandchildren and touched countless lives across the country and around the world as a teacher, minister, and missionary.

Funeral services will be held on Monday, August 4, 2025, at First Baptist Church of Lyman, 14321 Old Highway 49, Gulfport MS. Pastor Josh Cougle will officiate. Visitation will be held at 9:00 AM and the service at 10:00 AM. Following a meal provided by the church, burial will be held at 2:30 PM at Memorial Gardens of Laurel, 2151 MS-184, Laurel, MS, with military honors.

The family would like to thank the First Baptist Church of Lyman for all their support. Memorials can be made to help offset costs associated with the funeral.

Bradford O'Keefe Funeral Home, O'Neal Road, Gulfport, is honored to serve the family of John Stewart.