Benjamin Stuart

Published 6:00 am Friday, February 25, 2011

    Services for Benjamin “Ben” Stuart will be held Saturday, at 11 a.m., at Webb Funeral Home Chapel with Bro. Steve Taylor and Bro. Gerald Chaney officiating. Burial will be in Magnolia Cemetery with James F. Webb Funeral Home in charge of the arrangements.

    Mr. Stuart went to be with the Lord on Wednesday, Feb. 23, 2011, at his home after a lengthy illness. He was a member of Russell Baptist Church. He was a 20 year veteran in the U.S. Marine Corp. While in the service, Mr. Stuart served three tours in Vietnam as a Gunnery and aided in the evacuation of South Vietnam during his last tour. Upon retiring, he and his family returned to Meridian where he became a member of the Meridian Fire department where he served until his retirement due to ill health. He was a wonderful husband and a devoted father and grandfather. He will be sorely missed by family and friends.

    Survivors include his wife, Stella Stuart; his son, Mike and his wife Phyllis; his daughter, Teri Harris and her husband Evan; his son, Tim and his wife Rhonda; grandchildren: Jason Harris and his fiancé Lindsey Dearman, Jeff Stuart and his fiancé Courtney Warren, Ashleigh and Alyssa Harris, Julie Von Reed of Gulfport, and Jeb Stuart; sisters: Louise Chaney and her husband Rev. Gerald Chaney, Bonnie Sharp, Peggy Johnson, Sally Moore of Durham, N.C., Grace Brunelle and her husband Bill, Nancy Berry of El Cajon, Calif., and Rose Henley; brothers: Melton Butch Stuart and his wife Lynn, and Roland Stuart and his wife Kaye of Durham, N.C.; and, numerous nieces and nephews.

    He is preceded in death by his parents, Annie Bell Copeland Stuart and Shepherd Spencer Stuart; sister, Ida Mae Scott; brother, James Stuart; several step-brothers and step-sisters; and, a niece and nephew.

    Pall bearers will be Jason Harris, Jeff Stuart, Tim Miller, Bryan Long, Andy Sellers, David Barfield, Mike Tripi and Ricky Leister.

    Family and friends may sign the online guestbook at www.jamesfwebb.com.

    Visitation will be today, from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m., at the funeral home.