GREENWOOD, Miss. (AP) - A year ago this day (March 12), the body of 54-year-old Walter Stewart Jr. was discovered by a fisherman at Sidon Cutoff Lake.
Stewart, a former professional kickboxer who enjoyed teaching the art of fighting and self-defense, was beloved by many in the community and known to interact with just about anyone, family members said.
His death has caused continued grief for the large family he leaves behind - nine children, four stepchildren and numerous siblings.
His sisters no longer receive daily phone calls from him, and his children now lack a father figure to guide them and be there for their important moments.
Part of their suffering stems from the fact that no one has been charged in Stewart’s death.
“A part of me was stolen that could never be replaced,” said one sister, Claireane Stewart-Webb.
“I lost my brother,” said another sister, Iola Stewart. “That’s still like an open wound, and nobody has paid for the crime yet.”
Another sister, Celie Stewart, said she missed everything about him: “My brother was a person full of life, full of energy.”
Teresa Brown, who had two children with Stewart, described him as a funny, energetic, family man.
She said that he maintained close relationships with all of his children as well as his stepchildren, including Brown’s 7-year-old son, Jared. Stewart stepped in as a father figure after Jared’s biological dad passed away, Brown said.
“We rode bikes, and we brushed our teeth, and he taught me how to do push-ups,” Jared said, later demonstrating several push-ups and sit-ups.
Jared called Stewart “Wawa,” and Stewart called him “Little Booger,” something he misses, Jared said.
Brown provided several anecdotes about Stewart - how he would make braided crosses out of garbage bags, how he taught people how to escape a headlock and how he dipped catfish in mustard when cooking it to give it a zesty flavor.
“He was a legend. He’ll never be forgotten,” Brown said.
Details about the reason for Stewart’s death are scarce. What is known, however, is that he was staying at the Regency Inn & Suites motel, along U.S. 82 West, for a few nights, according to sister Mary Stewart.
According to Celie, Walter Stewart was last at a night club in Sidon immediately prior to his death.
Sometime later he was shot multiple times, and his body was dumped in Sidon Cutoff Lake, which is about 3 miles southwest of Sidon, Sheriff Ricky Banks said.
It’s the silence from the community that both angers and hurts the family.
“People (are) talking about it on the streets, but they’re not talking about it with (law enforcement),” Stewart-Webb said. “I don’t understand how no one is being held accountable.”
Investigators are encouraging those with information about Stewart’s death to call CrimeStoppers at 1-800-222-8477 for a financial reward.
Stewart-Webb said that if her brother had lost a loved one to gun violence, he would have provided any information he had to law enforcement.
Her brother was friendly to everyone he met but was “too trusting,” she said. “He felt like people were going to give him what he gave them.”
“The ones that murdered him without a doubt knew him,” she said.
Born in Belzoni, Stewart soon moved to Greenwood and later graduated from Greenwood High. He kickboxed professionally, travelling to different cities to participate in matches. After his kickboxing days, he did a variety of jobs, such as yard work, painting and also working for Clark Roofing.
Discussions of his death soon shifted to guns in Leflore County.
“People don’t understand the impact of gun violence,” Celie said, explaining that family members and friends are also affected.
“It’s one thing for someone to die but another for their life taken to be taken,” she said.
Stewart’s death last year was one of 11 homicides, 10 of which involved guns.
“You’re always seeing shootings,” Iola lamented. “I think it’s time for the mayor, the City Council and the (county) supervisors to get together.”
Recently, the Leflore County Board of Supervisors allocated $200,000 to the sheriff’s budget in order to form a task force to address an increase in crime.
In a discussion about gun violence, board president Robert Collins said that the situation is like World War II, with it being likely that a car driving down the street can get hit by a bullet.
The board members and the sheriff said they ultimately need for people in the community to speak up about gun violence.
“You sit back and think yes, we matter as black people,” Iola said. “When will it start to matter to us?”
Celie complained about homicide cases in Greenwood and Leflore County that have not been solved.
“When blacks kill blacks, it’s swept under the rug,” she said.
Please read our comment policy before commenting.