Jean Stewart

Jean Slaughter Stewart, 88, of Charlotte, NC died peacefully in her sleep on Saturday, May 21, 2011 at Southminster Retirement Community. Jean was a remarkable woman with a kind and generous spirit. To her husband and five children, she was the best wife, mother and role model one could ever imagine. Jean was a woman ahead of her time in many ways; she was an enthusiastic learner and remained open to new ideas throughout her life. She had a very keen intellect and studied many areas of interest – from organic gardening and nutrition, to Jungian theory and Quantum Physics. Jean deeply valued family and friends and loved to entertain. She was a wonderful chef and planned various types of celebrations – from Wimbledon parties with strawberries and champagne, to family Christmas dinners with prime rib and Yorkshire pudding.

Her children, grandchildren and friends feel blessed to have been the recipients of her love, insights and wisdom over the years. Never one to miss a teaching moment, she generously shared her guidance and loving support whenever it was needed.

Born October 9, 1922 in Greenville, South Carolina, Jean was the daughter of Vesta and Gibbons Slaughter. A few months later, the family moved to Charlotte where Jean lived most of her life. Jean matriculated to Alexander Graham Junior High, and then Central High School in downtown Charlotte. At Central High School, she met many of her dearest friends that she has had for seventy years. Jean chaired the Women of the Church at Christ Episcopal Church, and was a member of the Charlotte Assembly Debutante Club. She was a founding member of Charlotte’s L’Histoire Book Club which met regularly for more than 50 years. Jean attended UNC-G, and then married James William (Bill) Stewart on October 9, 1942, her 20th birthday. Theirs was a beautiful love story. They were married for fifty years and were the proud parents of five children. They enjoyed doing things together, such as gardening, cooking and travel. They shared wonderful times with family and friends at Litchfield Beach as well, until Bill passed away in 1993. They always looked upon one another as true soul mates.

At a time when most people began to consider retirement, Jean started to map out her career. When she and Bill moved to New York City in 1975, she enrolled at Fordham University to finish her undergraduate degree in Sociology, and then earned her Master’s degree in Social Work—specializing in Gerontology—from Hunter College two years later. “I was older than everyone on the faculty when I got my degree,” Jean laughed. “I was older than the dean!” While working on her MSW, Jean was a volunteer at the Stanley Isaacs Center in New York, The Jewish Center for the Blind and in Spanish Harlem. After graduation, she worked in New York as a psychotherapist. Upon returning to Charlotte in 1983, Jean continued her psychotherapy practice. She also became an active volunteer at Spirit Square, the Mint Museum of Art, and NC Dance Theater. At age 72, Jean helped translate life experiences into performance art with Tapestries, a group of older Americans who created and performed a unique program at Spirit Square. “Tapestries demonstrates that older Americans have survival skills and wisdom—qualities that are under-valued in today’s throw-away society,” she explained. “The Tapestries Program helps break down the stereotypes about aging.”

In an interview conducted by the Charlotte Observer over a decade ago, “Jean Stewart believes that her lifelong spiritual development—not only her Christian beliefs, but her respect for intuition and dreams—is what pulled her through,” after her husband’s death. “When Jean Stewart visits her church memorial garden, she feels close to so many people—her husband, her mother, her sister, and many friends. At 75, she has known all shades of grief, from the gentle sorrow of letting a 92-year old parent go, to the heart-rending loss of the man she loved for 55 years. But here among the flowers, she mostly feels at peace. She knows her time will come to join them, but for now, she’s enjoying the sun on the pansies, anticipating a beach trip with her children and thinking about the classes she’s taking.” The Stewart family has been celebrating these annual beach family reunions –called “Stewart Fest” -for more than sixty years.

Jean is survived by two sisters, Vesta Slaughter Short, (Milton) of Charlotte, and Martha Slaughter Madsen, who lives in Tucson, Arizona. She is also survived by her five children, Jill Stewart Flynn (Smitty), Melissa Stewart, (Richard Maschal) Jim Stewart, (Jocelyn Sutton) Sally Stewart Mohney (Mark), Mark Stewart (Karen), and nine grandchildren: Angela Flynn-McIver (Charlie), Kate Flynn, Chris Lee (Julie) and Zachary Lee , Lauren and Hayden Stewart, Ashley and Hayes Mohney, Griffin and Camryn Stewart, Chase and Remy Stewart, as well as four great grandchildren: Nora and Cameron Flynn-McIver and Thaddeus and Callum Lee.

Jean is survived by many loyal friends of all ages. Many thanks to all of you. Jean’s children would like to thank Barbara Burton, Jean’s primary caregiver, for the love, care, and friendship she gave to our mother. We would also like to thank Louise Hunt for her care and loyalty to Mom as well as the staff at Southminster who were always so supportive to Mom and to us.

A celebration of Jean Stewart’s life will be held in the Great Room at Southminster on Wednesday, May 25, 2011 at 4:00 pm, followed by a reception.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Southminster Retirement Community or the charity of your choice.

Condolences may also be expressed at www.harryandbryantfuneralhome.com