Martha Ellen (Tolbert) Stewart was born on April 28, 1933 to Maggie Mae Prince (Tolbert) and Luther Edward Tolbert. She was one of 12 siblings of which Jake Tolbert is the sole survivor. The family lived in the Corner community of Blunt County, Alabama. Martha married James Paul Stewart on July 26, 1951 and the couple resided in Birmingham, Alabama. This union produced 3 children; Paula Garzarck Thomas, Renee Pugliese Jones and James Paul Stewart, Jr. (Jimmy). Martha was a mother of 3, grandmother of 5 and great grandmother of 2. She was a mother, a homemaker and a hair dresser. Martha divided her time between gardening, cooking and traveling. She was devoted to her family and always placed them first in her life.
She is survived by one brother, Jake Tolbert, and her three children. Paula is married to Mark Thomas. She has one daughter, Brooke Renee (Garzarck) Stewart who is married to Steven Stewart. Their children are Samuel Steven and Ella Brooke. Renee is married to Brian Jones. She has three children, Emma Alexandria Pugliese, Isabella Katherine Pugliese and Tyler Russell Jones. Jimmy has one son, James Cole Stewart.
Martha passed peacefully on the morning of July 4, 2019 after battling Parkinson's for several years. Funeral services will be held on Sunday, July 7 at Jefferson Memorial Gardens in Trussville. Chapel service is at noon, viewing 1 hour before and burial immediately after.