While this column has been called Ramblin’ for several years, it was originally called Our Town back in the early ’90s. Then, I was also assigned to write a column called Grapevine chronicling tidbits of this and that throughout the community.

Considering, at that time, I had only lived here about a year, my Grapevine information was pretty sparse. Yet, every week, the column was full thanks to the contributions, notes, and phone calls of one man: Fluker Stewart.

Fluker contributed so many items to Grapevine that the column began ending with his observations, commentary and notes on local folks under the heading of Fluker’s Corner, where I would refer to him as “man-about-town Fluker Stewart.” It seemed Fluker’s Corner grew to encompass more of the column each week.

Fluker Stewart knew a lot of folks and a lot of folks knew him.

My duties at the newspaper changed. Fluker wasn’t interested in taking over Grapevine officially. Grapevine ended and so did my weekly phone calls from Fluker.

He kept in touch, though.

He would call with story ideas and jokes. Lots of jokes. Tons of jokes. He would call with congratulations on the birth of my sons. Or to comment on some other matter he had heard through the grapevine.

That moniker of “man about town” was true for many years.

Last week, Fluker G. Stewart passed away at the age of 85. Age and health problems had kept him from being a man about town for many years.

But in his day, Fluker made himself known no matter the town.

He had been a Boy Mayor of Atlanta back in the days when Hartsfield was Atlanta’s mayor instead of its airport. Fluker kicked off a career in journalism as editor of the University of Georgia’s prestigious campus newspaper Red and Black and its yearbook, The Pandora. He worked with Atlanta’s newspapers for a while.

He served in World War II. He became editor of the Ford News for Ford Motors in Hapeville, Ga., established off-campus centers within the state’s university system, worked as editor for a clothing manufacturer’s in-house publications, became a public-relations director for Florida’s Stetson University, and then director of college relations with Valdosta State, where he remained until retiring in 1985.

These accomplishments and many others were listed in his obituary last week. But there are other details of his life that weren’t on the obituary pages.

Fluker collected autographs and had a large collection of famous signatures. Some from celebrities whom he met on short occasions. Others from famous folks who were his friends. Country comedian Minnie Pearl was among his friends, as were Ryan O’Neal and Farrah Fawcett, having had years of correspondence with all of them.

Fluker’s beloved daughter, Lucy Martin Stewart, died many years ago. He often spoke of the beauty of her singing voice. Though he mourned her young passing, Fluker chose to celebrate her life by helping others. He established the Lucy Martin Stewart scholarship which has helped numerous VSU voice students for decades.

His son, Jeff Stewart, has maintained a sense of Fluker’s community spirit and innovation. Jeff and his wife, Becky, founded Valdosta’s mega-successful, annual Father-Daughter Dance. Jeff didn’t have to create such a dance. He just thought it would be a fun and memorable event to share with his daughters, as well as the community.

Same could be said for Fluker’s many activities. He thought they were personally fulfilling while also filling a need in the community.

That is possibly the best tribute to Fluker Stewart: He lived life to the fullest and the community is fuller for it.



Dean Poling is The Valdosta Daily Times features editor.