Laura Jeanne Stewart

Laura Jeanne Stewart, 20, passed away October 25, 2012 at her home in Woodstock, GA after a five
year battle with cancer. She is the daughter of Mr. Gene Stewart of Sandy Springs, GA and Mrs. Barbara
Coombe of Woodstock, GA.
Laura had a tremendously successful life and influenced thousands of people, fighting not only for
her, but for hundreds of other children and families she met through her journey. She was voted
homecoming queen and prom queen during her senior year at Etowah High School in Woodstock, GA.
Laura was a star on her high school track team and also played basketball. She graduated in the top
1% of her senior class, while fighting this awful disease. She was most recently a student at Kennesaw
State University, where she studied Human Services, with a goal to work in a non-profit organization to
continue the fight. She also interned at the American Cancer Society.
Laura was one of the faces of the CURE Childhood Cancer Foundation of Atlanta, GA, participating
in photo shoots, and featured in their annual report. She participated in fund raising events for the
Aflac Cancer Center broadcast on WSB radio, reaching millions of listeners. She also appeared in
television commercials across the country on behalf of AFLAC’s Beads of Courage program. She was
featured on local television stations and the CBS Sunday Morning show and gave inspirational speeches
to many groups, including local Girl Scout troops and hundreds of AFLAC sales executives. Laura
volunteered for the Make a Wish Foundation and was honored in October of 2012 with the William
Blake Keller “Indomitable Spirit” Award. Established in honor of Wish Child, Blake Kuller, this award is
intended to honor the individual who embodies the essence of an “indomitable” spirit and possesses
these qualities…persistence, bravery, compassion, integrity, dedication and humor, as Blake did.
As another way to fight back, Laura founded and chaired Kennesaw State’s inaugural Relay for Life
event, which rose over $33, 000 in 2012, and was voted as the top new fundraising event in the United
States by the American Cancer Society. This event will continue forever in her honor, and will continue
doing great things to help others beat this horrible disease.
Throughout her illness, Laura never gave up and more importantly, never let her faith in the Lord
waiver. She accomplished so much good in this world in such a short time. In addition to her parents,
Barbara Coombe and Gene Stewart, she is survived by her brothers Clint Stewart; Garrett Stewart;
sister Sonya Stewart; stepfather Kevin Coombe; stepmother Lisa Stewart; grandmothers Nancy Holub
of Roswell, GA; Elsie McCarthy of Clinton, TN; aunts and uncles Linda and Skip Allen of Lawrenceville,
GA; Rick and Karen Stone of Savannah, GA; Kathy Melton and family of Clinton, TN; Linda Burnette and
Jack Walker of Lenoir City, TN; cousins Robbie Allen and wife Katie Tart Allen of Sandy Springs, GA; and
Kevin Allen of Atlanta, GA. There are numerous other cousins and family members, as well as hundreds
of friends who loved her and will miss her.
A private family service is being held. In lieu of flowers, Laura asked that donations be made to the 2013
KSU Relay for Life so the fight can continue. Donations can be sent to The American Cancer Society,
1825 Barrett Lakes Blvd., Ste. 280, Kennesaw, GA 30144; Attn: Laura Jeanne Stewart.
http://main.acsevents.org/site/TR?px=13794813&fr_id=48699&pg=personal