Reba W. Stewart

Reba W. Stewart of Albany, GA., died Saturday, June 7, 2025 at Evergreen Assisted Living. Graveside services will be held Tuesday, June 10, 2025 at 11:00 a.m. Crown Hill Cemetery. Rev. Charlie Brown will officiate.

Reba was a lifelong resident of Albany, GA. She was the daughter of the late Ola Mae and Warnell Willis. Ms. Stewart was the third oldest of ten children. She was married to the late John Emmett Stewart for sixty-two years and is survived by a daughter Leslie Stewart Sullivan, and two grandchildren, Clay and Mary Stewart Sullivan, all of New York City.

Reba is survived by her sisters, Retha Willis Stewart, of Hoschton, GA, and Linda Willis McDaniel, of Tampa, FL, her brothers, Sherman Willis (Jean), James Warren (J.W.) Willis both of Albany, GA, and Harvey Willis (Twila) of Gainesville, GA. Four sisters preceded her in death, Mildred Willis Stewart, Nadine Willis Farmer, Doris Willis Croyle and Brenda Kay Willis Bryant. She is also survived by many nieces and nephews.

Reba graduated from Albany High School and Georgia Banking School. She was employed with Citizens and Southern Bank, now Bank of America, for thirty-seven and one-half years and with SunTrust Bank for twenty-six years, all in Albany. Reba was a trail blazer in the banking industry, having been named the first female banking officer and first female branch manager in Albany while employed at Citizen and Southern Bank of Albany.

Reba felt it a privilege to “give back” to a community that had been good to her and her family. With this sense of pride for her community, she served in many leadership roles, including, Past Chairman of the Board of Directors of the American Heart Association, Past Chairman of the Board of Directors of Albany YMCA, Past Chairman of the Board of SOWEGA Council on Aging, Past Chairman of the Board of Boys and Girls Club of Albany, Committee Chair to Raise funds to build the Chapel at Phoebe Putney Memorial Hospital, Committee Member to build the new church on Ledo Road of Byne Memorial Baptist Church of Albany, Foundation Board of Directors of Darton College, Foundation Board of Directors of Albany State College, and Board of Directors of SunTrust Bank. Reba was also a member of the Dougherty County Kiwanis Club.

Reba also received many community honors, including, Albany’s Woman of the Year, the Golden Deed Award presented by The Exchange Club of Albany, the Woman of Distinction Award from the Girl Scouts of America, and the Woman of the Youth Award from the Boys and Girls Club of Albany.

Reba loved her church and church family at Byne Memorial Baptist Church of Albany, where she was a member for seventy-three years. She took an active role in the activities of her church, serving on many committees and reaching out in the community through its mission efforts.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Byne Memorial Baptist Church Living the Legacy Building Fund, the Boys and Girls Clubs of Albany, or the SOWEGA Council on Aging, Meals on Wheels.