Ethel Martin Stewart, 95, passed away on Wednesday, Dec. 5, 2012, at Silver Cross Home in Brookhaven.

     Ethel was born on Nov. 24, 1917, to Ada Oliver and John Clinton (Wise) Martin of Brookhaven. She was the third oldest child (and oldest daughter) of nine children.

     Ethel and her husband, Herman Rowan Stewart, made their home in Vicksburg from 1945 to 1972. They returned to Brookhaven after retirement to make their home on the same property where they lived when they were first married.

     She loved and was involved in many crafts: crocheting, quilting, needlework/sewing, embroidery and ceramics. She also loved cooking and gardening (flowers, shrubs, vegetables, etc.)

     At the time of her death, Ethel was a member of Joanna Mathis’s Sunday school class and Gum Grove Baptist Church in the West Lincoln community of Brookhaven.

     Ethel was preceded in death by her parents, Ada Oliver and John Clinton (Wise) Martin; husband, Herman Rowan Stewart; older brothers, Bennie L. Martin of Baton Rouge, La., and Wesley S. Martin of Sulphur, La.; her younger sisters, Gladys Martin Stewart, Geneva Martin Case, Pauline Martin Allred and Edna Martin East of Brookhaven, and Oranell Martin Jarman of Clarksville, Va.; her sisters-in-law, Georgia B. Stewart Wingate of Brookhaven, Ella Stewart Martin and Lilly Stewart Hall of Sulphur, La., Audrey Allred Martin of Baton Rouge, La., and Emma Stewart Britt of Natchez; her brothers-in-law, Lee Stewart, Troy D. Allred, Harvey Stewart and Robert H. East of Brookhaven, Hollis Britt of Natchez, Bennie M. Hall of Sulphur, La., and Walter S. Jarman of Clarksville, Va.; her nieces, Virginia Carol Case of Brookhaven, and Judy Jarman Gomer of Dillwyn, Va.; her nephews, Billy Wayne Jarman of Huntsville, Ala., James Allred of Bogue Chitto, and Howard R. Stewart of Summit; her nieces-in-law, Sylvia Golman Martin of Sulphur, La. and Francis Nettles Stewart of Brookhaven; and her nephews-in-law, Harvey (Bosie) Richardson of Brookhaven, Rudy Crumholt of Baton Rouge, La., and the Rev. Boyce D. Powell of Sulphur, La.

     Ethel is survived by her daughter, Geraldine (Geri) Stewart and her husband, Frank A. Herrmann Jr. of Tampa, Fla.; her grandsons, Frank A. Herrmann III and his wife, Kim, of Tampa, Fla., and Fred C. Herrmann and his wife, Jeanine, of Birmingham, Ala.; her great-granddaughters, Klein and Keira Herrmann of Tampa, Fla.; her youngest brother, Charles F. Martin and his wife, Bobbie, of Brookhaven; her brother-in-law, Emerson Case of Brookhaven; her nieces and nephews-in-law, Mickey Martin and Terry P. Walker, Shirley Stewart and George King, Beverly East Smith, Sharon Allred Young, and Gladys Stewart Richardson and Homer Hodges of Brookhaven, Carlene Allred and John T. Statham of McComb, Lanell Martin and Charlie Speights, Ilene Martin and Chuck Brashier, Loraine Martin of Baton Rouge, La., Mildred Martin Powell of Bryan, Texas, Reba Allred and Conrad Saurage of Praireville, La., Debbie Jarman Smith of Clarksville, Va., Arline Hall and Allen Doughty and Annette Martin Crumholt of Shreveport, La., Carolene Britt and Sandra Britt and Donald R. Smith of Natchez, Dorothy Stewart and Martin T. Babb of Lena, and Larkell Stewart and A.J. Belise of Labadieville, La.; her nephews and nieces-in-law, Janice and Raymond R. Martin of Baton Rouge, La., Sue Devers and Bobby R. Martin of Sugarland, Texas, Randall S. Martin of Sulphur, La., Martha E. and W. Harold Martin of Norman, Okla., Elaine Wallace and George E. Allred, Pete J. Stewart, Regina Johnson and Andrew (Andy) L. East and Tammy Bowman and David E. East of Brookhaven, Danny E. Case of Sachse, Texas, W. Michael Jarman of Crystal River, Fla. and Melissa B. and Jerry P. Jarman of Baskerville, Va.; many great, great-great and great-great-great nieces and nephews; and her church family at Gum Grove Baptist Church in Brookhaven.

     During her final months, she was blessed with loving and caring caregivers on the staff of Silver Cross Home and Southern Care Hospice who showered her with understanding, patience and love. Her family would like to thank each employee of Silver Cross Home and Comfort Care Hospice for their loving and caring dedication in their care of Ms. Ethel during her stay.

     Services will be held on Saturday, Dec. 8, 2012, at 1 p.m. at Gum Grove Baptist Church, with Pastor James Sanders officiating. Visitation will be held from 5 until 8 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 7, 2012, at the Brookhaven Funeral Home on Natchez Drive, and from noon on Saturday, Dec. 8, 2012 until the time of the service at Gum Grove Baptist Church. The graveside service will be held at the Gum Grove Baptist Church Cemetery immediately following the funeral service.

     Pallbearers will be nephews and nephews-in-law of Mrs. Stewart.

     Memorials may be made to the Cemetery Fund of Gum Grove Baptist Church, 1244 Gum Grove Road, SW, Brookhaven, MS 39601.