Mrs. Stuart was born Tuesday, August 31, 1937, in Bulloch County, Alabama, the daughter of the late Anna Deese and Joseph Donald Oakes. She was a housewife and attended Davidson Baptist Church. Mrs. Stuart was feisty, but she knew what she stood for. She was a good cook with a special Brunswick stew recipe. People called her Sunshine and she loved her family and they loved her.

Survivors include her children, Gail Godfrey, Carol Greathouse, Pam Bradley (Derek), Kenneth Stuart (Cindy), Tim Stuart (Sandy), Phillip Stuart (Jan) and Terry Stuart; 18 grandchildren and 17 great grandchildren; and her sister Marilyn Norman.