Sarah Love Grant Stewart, daughter of Murdock M. Grant and Mary Rebecca (Mollie) Carr, was born in 1877. She was a leader in early Opp, and until her death in 1960, strived to make Opp a better place to live and raise a family. She was a valued, talented citizen, respected by all for her kindness, values, business acumen, and community contributions. Affectionately known as “Aunt Lovey” by her friends, Mrs. Stewart was a gifted writer and well-known poet. She was a great resource for the early history of Opp and its churches and schools and was often called upon by the newspaper for data related to the first settlers of Opp and Covington County.
She was teaching Sunday School classes in a small wooden building at the East end of Railroad Avenue when the Methodist Church was organized in the summer of 1901. Plans for a permanent Church building were formulated at a meeting in the home of Dr. & Mrs. Stewart at 207 Hart Avenue. Mrs. Stewart and Mrs. E.E. Kelley sponsored a little park located under the Old City Water Tank (Northeast corner of Whaley and Covington Avenue). They raised enough money to purchase several iron benches and chairs, they planted flower beds along the pathways and created a beautiful area.
She was a writer and had many poems published in various magazines and later she published a book of poems, “Glimpses”, which is available in our City Library.
For years there was no library in town. When the Municipal building was finished, a special section was designated for a library. Mrs. Stewart, with several others, worked tirelessly, asking for families to donate books of value. Finally, with help from Mrs. Corie Caston, who was a librarian, a true library was set up with the state library method of cataloging used. Mrs. Stewart was then elected President of the Library Association. The library grew until a larger space was needed. The Opp Public Library building and some of its contents bear witness to brave souls who planted the seeds and saw the harvest.
A measure of Mrs. Stewart’s knowledge and ability is evident for she was the only woman in Opp ever to be publicly urged to run for Mayor, in the fall of 1926 and again in the fall of 1928. She declined both opportunities but was deeply touched by the invitation. Mrs. Stewart continued to live in Opp after the passing of her husband. She wrote, took great interest in all students and especially the young ladies who might have some writing talent. Mrs. Stewart was often called on to judge writing contests for Opp High students. She traveled with friends and alone to various destinations of interest. From the “Personals” column of the old papers she seems mostly to visit family, but she is seldom out of Opp for more than a day or two. She continued her work at the First Methodist Church. Dr. and Mrs. Stewart was so highly thought of that West Avenue was renamed in their honor.
It is impossible to pinpoint her many efforts, but a concerted effort of which some great heart and mind had dreamed, before the finished achievement. She dared to dream, and with much effort, that dream came true, and the town progresses. She was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2007.
