Arthur Rabon Stewart

Arthur Rabon Stewart was born to Taylor Columbus Stewart and Maggie Kennedy Stewart in a log cabin that his dad constructed in Escambia County, Florida. His life revolved around school, church, farm duties and outdoor activities with his siblings and numerous nephews and nieces.From the third grade through the ninth, he picked cotton to earn money to purchase his own school clothing, learning at that early age the discipline and reward of hard work. At the age of fourteen, Rabon was saved during a revival in their home church in Atmore, Alabama under the ministry of his cousin, Rev. Leon O. Stewart (who is surviving at 91 years of age with his precious wife Mrs. Donna). That same Fall, he hitchhiked all the way to Greenville, South Carolina to enroll as a tenth grader in Holmes Academy.He spent the following seven years in Greenville studying and working at Holmes Academy then Holmes Theological Seminary where he earned his Bachelors Degree in Sacred Literature. In 1958, at the age of 18, Rabon was licensed to preach by the Alabama Conference of the Pentecostal Holiness Church and was ordained in 1960.He has served as pastor in various churches in Alabama and most recently in Florence Christian Assembly, Florence, SC, and Socastee Family Worship Center of Socastee, SC - an anointed 62 years in service to the Lord.Reverend Stewart also served as Alabama Conference Superintendent, district elder, and in other areas of ministry, including missions building teams in at least six countries. In 1962, Rabon married the elegant Lydia Jewelle Edwards of Andrews, South Carolina. Together they embarked on their beautiful life’s journey in ministry and family, and Rabon and Jewelle celebrated their 58th anniversary November 25, 2020. “Papa” was so very proud of their three surviving daughters. Juanita (Jeff) Badgett resides in Aniston, Alabama.Linda (Edmond) Velilla lives in Columbia, South Carolina, and Linda’s children Matthew and Maggie attend the University of South Carolina.Laura (Tyler) Clark lives in Rock Hill, South Carolina. Caleb is serving in the National Guard. Jonah is graduating high school this year. Micah is a rising tenth grader, and Aaron is a rising fifth grader.Edmond’s two children, Davis and Hannah, were included in Papa’s daily prayers for his beloved family. He was so blessed that his children love the Lord.Rabon is survived by three siblings, Iria Martin Stewart of Bay Minette, AL, Homer E. (Ann) Stewart of Flomaton, AL, and Pauline S. (Norman) Collins of Winter Springs, FL. He was preceded in death by his parents, 6 siblings, and infant son, Edward Brian. Memorials may be made to the SC Conference IPHC, Missions Projects, 620 S. Ron McNair Blvd., Lake City, SC29560. The family will receive friends from 5 – 7 pm Saturday, May 15, 2021 at Stoudenmire-Dowling Funeral Home.Funeral services will be held at 3:30 pm Sunday at Compassion Church. Please send messages to the family at the obit section of www.stoudenmiredowling.com.