Isaac Stewart was born January 8, 1937, in Hempstead County, Arkansas (Clow), to the late Andrew Stewart, Sr. and Ora Bell Whitmore Stewart. He was preceded in death by both of his parents, four sisters and two brothers.
He departed this life May 14th, 2026, after a prolonged illness.
Isaac or “Ike” as he was affectionately called, grew up in Clow, Arkansas, where he attended the Clow Training School.
After high school, he attended the Arkansas Agricultural, Mechanical and Normal College (UAPB) from which he graduated with a degree in agriculture.
Upon graduating from college, he joined the army and served with distinction for about three years.
He was honorably discharged from the army though he continued in service to the federal government by working for the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). During this time, he lived and worked in several different cities including San Francisco and Chicago.
Later, he met and married. To this union, no children were born.
Ultimately, Ike decided to return home to Arkansas to be near family and friends. He received his teaching credentials and immediately began working with the group of people that he enjoyed caring for and working with the most…..his students. Ike loved children and though he elected not to become a father himself, he served as a father “figure” to many. His students referred to him simply as “Mr. Ike” and he loved it. Teaching allowed him to influence young people, helped him to stay “young’ and allowed him to explore his interests in agriculture at the same time.
In Arkansas he met his longtime love, Martha Jenkins, with whom he shared the responsibility of guiding her five children as well as several grandchildren. Unfortunately, Martha preceded him in death.
Ike was an avid reader. If we noticed that he was missing, often times he could be found in a quiet corner curled up with a good book. That was something that he enjoyed throughout his life until his eyesight began to fail him. He used reading as an adventure and a way to explore the world around him from home. He devoured books about everything from novels to history with the same tenacity.
Other interests included tending a huge garden where he planted just about everything imaginable in between tending livestock.
Most of his nieces and nephews knew him as The Card Shark. He taught most of them to play cards and simply loved to “run a Boston”.
Ike leaves to cherish his memory a host of loved ones including:
One sister, Mrs. Velma Shaw Williamson of Little Rock, Arkansas; “Step-children”, Barbara Bishop (Jerry) of Manhattan, Kansas, Nellie Williams of Hope, Arkansas, Thomas Jenkins (Francis) of Nashville, Arkansas, and Steven Jenkins of McCaskill, Arkansas; as well as “step” grandchildren, Courtney Jenkins of Hope, Arkansas, Chris Weston (Gloria) of Texarkana, Texas, Marcus Jenkins, of Tulsa, Oklahoma, Atlantis Manning (Mitchell) of Hope, Arkansas, Maurice Hickman of Hope, Arkansas , Thomas Jenkins, Jr. of Hope, Arkansas, Barry Bishopof Topeka, Kansas, Shawn Bishop of Manhattan, Kansas, Brandice Bishop of Atlanta, Georgia, Ricky Jenkins, Jr. of Hope, Arkansas , Shamaine Jenkins of Canton, Mississippi, Shree Jenkins of Arkadelphia, Arkansas.
His nieces, Dr. Allison Shaw of Little Rock, Arkansas, Dr. Sharon Baucom (Tony) of Windsor Mill, Maryland, Dr. Karan Baucom (Nancy) of Overland Park, Kansas, Lesa Hampton of Antioch, California, Lorna Rowland (Randy) of Antioch, California, Ramona Green (Rick) of Atlanta, Georgia, Cheryl Hyland of California, Jackie Coulter of California, Teresa Atkins of Texarkana, Texas. His nephews, Lee Dell Stewart, Jr. of Antioch, California, Leland Stewart (Pamela) of Tucson, Arizona, Ralph Hendrix of Texarkana, Ronald Creswell(Cynthia) of Antioch, California, Rufus Coulter of Center Point, Arkansas, Martin Stewart (LaWanda) of Antioch, California, Douglas Stewart (Chong) of Tacoma, Washington as well as a host of cousins and other relatives.
Visitation
Friday, May 22, 2026
4:00PM – 6:30PM
Hicks Funeral Home
407 S. Hazel Street
PO Box 548
Hope, AR 71801
Service
Saturday, May 23, 2026
2:30PM
Hicks Funeral Home
407 S. Hazel Street
PO Box 548
Hope, AR 71801
Final Resting Place
Cummings Cemetery
932 Hempstead Country Road 37