Clara Elizabeth Stewart

Clara Elizabeth Stewart of Water Valley, TN passed away on August 18th, 2026 at Maury Regional Medical Center.

The funeral service will be held on August 22, 2026 at Oakes & Nichols Funeral Home in Columbia, TN at 2:00pm with Reverend James Lunsford officiating. Visitation will begin at 12:00pm prior to the service. Burial will follow the funeral at Santa Fe Cemetery.

Clara (“Claire” to the family) was one of eight children born to Walker and Roxie Brady. Clara entered the world with a great sense of purpose and never knew what it was to be idle. Colossians 3:23 says “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord” and whether working as a sister, a wife, a church member, a coworker, an aunt or a friend, her diligence was truly a reflection of Christ’s love.

After graduating as valedictorian from Santa Fe High School, Clara went on to a career in customer service where she served the public with a professionalism and precision that could be trusted by all. She retired from United Cities Gas Company in 1997, and friendships forged there would last throughout her life.

Clara married Everett Stewart in 1963, falling in love after a childhood of knowing one another as neighbors and friends. As a young couple, they enjoyed time together fishing, camping, playing cards with friends and working side by side on their Water Valley farm. They built a life together and were married for 57 years until his passing in 2020.

The world lost one of the most generous and gentle pair of hands it has ever known with Clara’s passing. Clara’s hands could have written the next great American novel. She knew a little something about everyone and never forgot a story or recipe. Her hands were worn from many years of hard work; they were tanned from time out in the sun with her goats. Her fingertips were calloused from the countless hours she spent making her sewing machine sing as she turned lifeless paper patterns into beautiful works of art. Those hands spent many a Christmas making batch upon batch of divinity for her family and friends, and they were never empty - they were always giving you something. And most of the time, one hand could be found wrapped around her favorite: an ice-cold Pepsi.

Clara never had any children of her own, but all the children in her family felt the full extent of her motherly love through her constant presence at recitals, school events and programs, graduations, parties, and family vacations. Her love and support were unwavering.

A severe stroke in 2023 changed the shape of her day-to-day life. Gone were the days of using her sewing skills to make everything from costumes to ball gowns for her great nieces and nephews or making her famous fruit salad for holidays. Her hands and feet may not have carried her physically through the halls of NHC Maury, where she resided the last three years of her life, but she was the “hands and feet of Jesus” nonetheless. Befriending all her caretakers and loving her fellow residents, she impacted their lives with her wisdom and zeal for life. Despite the challenges of her last years, or perhaps through those, Clara worked for the Lord and His purpose until her last days.

Clara was a light to everyone she met and knew. She was a beloved member of Fly Church of the Nazarene where she could be found every Sunday in her regular pew. She was a true southern lady, with sharp wit and a laugh that was quick to make her clap her hands and throw her head back with a grin. There aren’t many left in the world like our Claire, and she will surely be missed.

Clara is survived by her siblings Helen Wall (the late Olen Wall), Marie McClain (the late Jimmy McClain), Dewey Brady (Dottie Brady), Faye Davis (the late Ted Davis) and numerous nieces, nephews, great and great-great nieces and nephews.

Clara is preceded in death by her husband Everett Stewart, her parents Walker and Roxie Brady, and her siblings Malcolm Brady (Margie Brady), Rosie Jewel, Alvin Brady (Yvonne Brady).

Pallbearers will be Mickey Allen, Mike Waugh, Jeff Davis, Taylor Allen, Davis Duffy and Sam Duffy. Honorary pallbearers will be the members of Fly Church of the Nazarene.

The family of Clara wishes to extend our sincere thanks to Odessa Smith, the staff at NHC Maury and Maury Regional and Dr. Thomas Quinn.

Memorials may be given to Fly Church of the Nazarene at 5688 Leiper’s Creek Rd. Santa Fe, TN 38482 and Santa Fe Cemetery in care of Mark & Mimi Priest at 3782 Raleigh Beard Rd. Santa Fe, TN 38482.