Stewart Retires From Long-Term Service with Meadows Hospital and the Meadows New Foundation

Courtesy of the Meadows New Foundation

Ronnie L Stewart is a passionate business and community leader whose tireless dedication has enhanced the lives of countless individuals in Toombs and the surrounding counties of Southeast Georgia. Known for his dedicated leadership and unwavering commitment to service, Stewart has made a lasting impact by fostering a strong work ethic, enhancing community engagement, and providing overwhelming support to our regional hospital and the Meadows New Foundation. He recently retired from serving with the Foundation, but his legacy of service and dedication will continue on for generations.

Early Life and Education Stewart was born in North Carolina. In 1951, when he was about four years old, his father, Fred Stewart, moved the family to Toombs County, Georgia. He developed a strong sense of family commitment and responsibility at an early age, working alongside his family, who were sharecroppers. At the age of 11, his family moved to Lyons to open a slaughterhouse. Stewart and his sister, “Punk,” also worked in the family meat market and small grocery store. Later, they both worked at their familyowned drive-in restaurant known as Dot’s Drive-In.

He had a unique experience at 16 working for Mr. Cooper at Lyons Funeral Home, which influenced his career path. His Lyons High School’s diversified, cooperative training program gave him a start in continuing to work within the funeral home, but Vietnam and Life shifted his direction.

In 1966, Stewart enlisted in the Army and joined the Medical Corps. After boot camp and advanced individual training as a medic, he was assigned to a contagious ward at the San Antonio Hospital in Texas. He loved everything about the work at the hospital and even got a job working nights and weekends at a local funeral home for more experience.

After completing a tour as a medic in Udorn, Thailand, he returned to the States and finally enrolled in mortuary school in Dallas, Texas, in 1969.

After graduating from school, he completed a year in Lawrenceville, Georgia, working with Tom M. Wages Funeral Service. Stewart returned to Toombs County in April 1971 and partnered with County Clerk of Court Fred Tippett to purchase the Frank Murchison Funeral Home in Vidalia, GA.

In later years, Stewart opened additional funeral home locations and provided ambulance services. His ambulance service ceased in 1977, as the role was relinquished to Toombs County EMS and hospital services.

Stewart was married to Joyce and had two children, Jamie and Christi. Unfortunately, after almost twenty years, their marriage ended.

He later met his current wife, Carol, and they have been happily married for 19 years. He built the Americ Inn, a large hotel and restaurant in Vidalia in 2008. He operated the business with his wife, Carol, for three years before deciding to sell it in 2011. It was also in 2011 that Stewart decided to retire from the funeral home business.

He will probably never completely retire from service. Currently, he has opened a business selling storage buildings, gazebos, and related items on Mt. Vernon Road, on the outskirts of Vidalia. He opened a transportation company to support other funeral homes. His transports involve work for the Toombs County Coroner and several area funeral homes. Stewart is back on 24/7 call again, which is just how he likes it. His transport company has taken him as far west as Wichita, KS, North to New Jersey, and South to Miami. Even at seventyeight, Ronnie Stewart cannot settle down with a glass of tea and a rocking chair.

Achievements and Recognition Over the years, Stewart participated in multiple community organizations and service boards. Due to his dedication to hospital operations, he served as Chairman of the Operating Board of Meadows Regional Hospital for 10 years. After the sale of Meadows Regional Hospital in 2021 to HCA Corporation, Stewart continued his service to the community by serving on the newly formed Meadows New Foundation (MNF), which has the mission of improving the health and well-being of all people in Montgomery, Toombs, and Wheeler Counties of Southeast Georgia.

The new Foundation ensures this mission by offering grant funding to nonprofit 501(C) (3) organizations that provide access to health care and prevention education to people living or receiving healthcare services in the MNF service area. Over the last two years, the MNF has awarded $850,000 to qualified service organizations. Personal Philosophy

Stewart authored a book in 2020, Sixty-Six Years, Thousands of Funerals, and Five Wives. The book serves as an autobiographical experience. His motto to live by: Life should NOT be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in an attractive and wellpreserved body, but rather to skid in sideways, body thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and screaming, “WOO HOO!” What a ride!”

Legacy and Future Goals

Dedicated husband, father, business owner, community leader, EMT, Author, and much more, Ronnie L Stewart has dedicated his life to service for others. The Meadows New Foundation is honored to have been guided by Stewart’s expertise in community resources and needs, as well as business management. Stewart exemplifies a spirit of service. He has served thousands of families with compassion and excellence, and we want to express our gratitude!