It is with sweet sorrow that her family announces that Blanche Beth Strain Stewart has concluded her journey. She was born in 1937 in rural Alabama as the first child of Rudolph and Exa Strain of Wedowee, Alabama.

As a child of the Depression, she wasted nothing, and worked without ceasing. She married Joel Melford Stewart, with whose support she was educated as a nurse and then a Certified Nurse Anesthetist. Ultimately, she functioned as a crux of the medical community in the greater area around Randolph County for 40+ years. Her touch was felt by virtually everyone there.

In God’s wisdom, she was made to wait to be a mother. Ultimately, she became a mother to Joel Melford Stewart Jr., to whom she was devoted beyond measure.

Beth is survived by her son, Dr. Joel Melford Stewart Jr.; daughter-in-law, Dr. Ashley Hawkins Stewart; and grandsons, Joel Melford Stewart III, Wilson Randolph Stewart, and Augustus Vincent Stewart; her brother, Don Strain.

A celebration of life will be held at Benefield Funeral Home in Wedowee, Alabama on August 14, at 4 p.m. CST.

In lieu of flowers, donations are requested to be made to the University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Nursing, 1701 University Boulevard, Birmingham, AL 35294.