Stewart Irwin Bloodworth, 83, was born on April 22, 1940, to the late Roy and Gerti Mixon Bloodworth in Grovania, Georgia and died June 27, 2023, at home in Perry surrounded by the family he dearly loved. Funeral services will be held on Saturday, July 1st, 2023, at Perry First Baptist Church. Visitation will begin at 9:30 AM, and services starting at 11:00 AM. Interment will be at 2:00 PM at Walnut Cemetery in Unadilla, Georgia.
Stewart and his seven brothers and sisters grew up working hard to help their parents make a living on their small family farm. The lessons he learned there – a strong work ethic, ambition to succeed, the need for a good education, the desire to give back, and faith in the good Lord – were traits that guided his entire life.
Stewart was a proud graduate of Perry High School. He was a good student and athlete and was named the Middle Georgia Football Player of the Year. The result of his leadership skills was shown when he was elected the local and state president of the Georgia FFA. His appreciation and support of FFA continued all his life.
After high school, Stewart attended ABAC where he was freshman class president, managed the college store, and ran track. It was there, in math class, that he met Marti Bonner of Vienna, and a match was made, a match that lasted almost 63 years. Stewart graduated in 1962 from UGA with a Batchelor Science in Forestry. He was an active member and held leadership positions in many forestry organizations while working several jobs to help support his family (daughter Terri was born his senior year). He then surprised everybody, especially Marti, by taking the family to Connecticut to get a master’s degree in forestry and Entomology from Yale University – quite a culture shock for a farm boy from Georgia.
Stewart then returned to Georgia and worked in the forestry industry for a few years, but soon returned to Houston County to his first love, farming. Daughter Kay and son Stewart Jr. joined the family, and they moved to Perry and built a large farming and livestock operation in South Houston County. He was a member and leader of many farm organizations and was ultimately named one of the four Outstanding Young Farmers of America. His desire to improve and beautify the land that he loved motivated him to build many ponds. After retiring from active farming, Stewart became interested in the construction industry and invested in the building of several subdivisions.
Stewart’s devotion to Georgia and Houston County led him to serve as a Houston County Commissioner and chairman of the State Board of Community Affairs. He was on the original Board of Trustees of The Westfield School and of Crossroads Bank. He was also a charter member of the Perry Rotary Club. Stewart’s faith in God was a central part of his life. He served as a deacon, Brotherhood president, and Sunday School teacher at Perry First Baptist Church. He was an active member of the Patterson Sunday School Class and loved each member. Perhaps because of the gratitude he had from those who had helped him, Stewart helped many people who found themselves in difficult circumstances. He truly lived to help others.
Preceding him in death, besides his parents, are sisters, Eva Roy Etheredge, Claud Hughes, and Glynis Ellis, his brother, Henry Bloodworth, and great granddaughters, Lucy and Charlotte Kinsler.
Left with many memories are his wife, Marti, his son, Stewart Bloodworth Jr., daughters, Terri Smith (Glenn) and Kay Grier (Mike), grandchildren Josh Smith (Keri Lynn), Dr. Matthew Smith (Christine), Mary Margaret Mickelson (Nathanael), Jenni Kinsler (Tyler), Ellen Grodner (Hunter), Ian Bloodworth and Bonner Bloodworth, six great grandchildren, Connor, Evan, Joanna, Henry, Millie, and Gabriel, and a large extended family.
Left with many memories are his wife, Marti, his son, Stewart Bloodworth Jr., daughters, Terri Smith (Glenn) and Kay Grier (Mike), grandchildren Josh Smith (Keri Lynn), Dr. Matthew Smith (Christine), Mary Margaret Mickelson (Nathanael), Jenni Kinsler (Tyler), Ellen Grodner (Hunter), Ian Bloodworth and Bonner Bloodworth, six great grandchildren, Connor, Evan, Joanna, Henry, Millie, and Gabriel. Sisters, Dr. Charlee Goolsby and Bobbe Richardson, Brother, Dr. Jerome Bloodworth (Carole) and a large extended family.
Suggested contributions include Perry First Baptist Church Benevolence Committee, E.H. Cheek FFA Educational Trust (c/o Jody Strickland 115 Barn Stable Road, Perry, GA), The Westfield School, or charity of choice.
Condolences for the family may be left in the online guestbook at www.watsonhunt.com. Watson-Hunt Funeral Home has been entrusted with the arrangements.
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