Paula Hatcher Stewart

Paula Hatcher Stewart, 71, resident of Tippah County, departed this life on Saturday May 25, 2024, at Tippah County Hospital.
Funeral Services honoring Mrs. Paula's life will be at 3 PM Thursday May 30, 2024, at Dumas Baptist Church with longtime friend, Bro. Kenneth Harrison officiating. Visitation will be from 10 AM until service time on Thursday May 30, 2024, at the church. Burial will follow in the Dumas Cemetery. Funeral Services will be lived stream today and will be posted on the Dumas Baptist Church Facebook page honoring Mrs. Paulas life. A link to their Facebook page is available at the bottom of the obituary.
Born November 28, 1952, in Tippah County, Mrs. Paula is the daughter of Elizabeth Hall Hatcher of Ripley, and the late Joe Hatcher. She was a graduate of Pine Grove High School and was married on June 29, 1973, to her beloved husband, Randy Stewart, who survives. Mrs. Paula was a devoted wife, mother, and homemaker all of her life, and babysitter for over forty years, touching the life of many children, throughout the Dumas community.
Together, Paula and Randy shared a special love and were the perfect example of a strong Christian marriage. They were soulmates throughout their almost 51 years of marriage. Randy was by her side still taking care of his bride even until the end. He was her comfort and peace truly fulfilling their vows to one another.
Paula loved her brothers and sister and always enjoyed opportunities to spend time with them over the years. Family was the utmost importance to her. She also gained brothers and sisters in love when she joined Randy's family. She loved and cherished his siblings and their spouses as her own. She also had a very special relationship with her daughter-in-law, who she thought of as her own daughter.
In her early years, Paula enjoyed spending her free time making woodcrafts. She loved sharing her artistic talents with others.
Although Jason was her only child, through her numerous years of babysitting she was able to influence and shape the lives of countless children. She genuinely loved her calling to be a mother to all around her. Mrs. Paula, as she was affectionately known, still received visits from many of her grown babysitting children even years later. She always put in the effort to maintain those relationships.
Despite never having a drivers' license, the prospect of future grandchildren motivated her to learn to drive in her 50's. After achieving that goal, she couldn't imagine how she had made it all those years without driving. Upon the arrival of her only grandson in 2008, she logged thousands of miles back and forth to Saltillo. She treasured every opportunity to spend time with family and especially the light of her life, Riley. She always put aside anything she had planned for a chance to see Riley. They had a bond like no other. They were the best of friends and shared countless Big Momma and Riley dates for milkshakes over the past 16 years.
Paula was outgoing and loved meeting new people. She never truly met a stranger as all she interacted with soon joined her circle of many friends. Her friends can be found across the entire country. She always sought to capture the moments of life and loved taking photos to document the memories. Sharing these photos and special moments with her multitude of friends on Facebook brought her great joy. Every year she sent out hundreds of Christmas cards to stay connected with all her friends.
She loved to laugh and enjoyed frequent jokes with friends. When she earned the nickname of "Taco Mama," you could always look forward to lively banter with her friend Cathy "Lying" Ward. They loved to pick on each other and were constantly sharing jokes.
Paula truly saw the best of people. She always found a kind word of encouragement to share with everyone around her. She was a treasured role model to all who sought her counsel. The world is a better place because of the impact to all the lives she touched throughout her brief time here. Her legacy of love will be deeply felt for endless years to come.
In addition to her husband, Randy Stewart, those left to cherish memories include, one son, Jason Stewart (Mary), one grandson, Riley Stewart, her mother, Elizabeth Hall Hatcher, one sister, Peggy Smith, three brothers, Walter Hatcher (Ginger), Greg Hatcher (Linda), and Bob Rusell (Kim), her brothers in love, Leon Hatcher (Tammy), Chad Hatcher, Keithal Hatcher, Gary Comans (Brenda), Terry Brumley (Kim), and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, in laws, and family.
She is also preceded in death by her father, Joe Hatcher, and a special grandmother, Lilliam "Mamaw" Hall.
Those serving as pallbearers will be Johnny Hill, Tommy Walters, Dwayne Hopkins, Seth Wilkins, Bradley Hatcher, and Tony Elliott.
Honorary pallbearers will be Dumas Baptist adult ladies Sunday school class, Karen Elliott, Terri Spencer, Tina Stacy, Kathy "Lying" Ward, Stan Hill, Mike Kent, Kevin Robinson, and the multiple children she babysat and friends she made throughout her life.
Mrs. Paula was always so proud of her nephew, Bradley Hatcher, and niece, Jesse Lewellen, and her family would like to give a special thanks them and the staff of Tippah County Hospital for all the love and care shown to them.
The family request that donations be directed to the local My Choice Pregnancy or the Gideons Organization.
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