Dr. Tywanda Faye Stewart Smart was born on April 23, 1961, in Columbus, Mississippi, the third of five daughters born to the late Former City Councilman Fred Stewart, Jr. and Frances Stewart, who continues to serve as the family’s beloved matriarch. Faye departed this life on April 11, 2026, just shy of her 65th birthday, leaving behind a legacy rooted in service, intellect, and deep love for her family and community.

From her earliest days in Columbus, Faye carried a quiet determination that would shape every chapter of her journey. She grew into a woman who believed in the power of education, the dignity of challenging work, and the responsibility to use one’s gifts to make the world better. Her life was not simply lived, it was poured out in service, mentorship, and leadership.

Raised in a close-knit home filled with strong values, sisterhood, and high expectations, Faye grew up navigating the neighborhoods of Columbus with her sisters in tow. Family lore still recalls her boldly leading the Stewart girls on bicycle adventures across the city often against their mother’s very clear instructions and being the first to affectionately call Frances “Mother,” a tradition carried by her and all her sisters.

Faye was educated in the Columbus Public Schools, attending Hughes Elementary, Hunt High, Joe Cook and Lee High School. Even as a young student, she stood out for her intellect, discipline, and eloquence. She went on to earn a bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education from Jackson State University, graduating summa cum laude, followed by a master’s degree from Arizona State University in Tempe, a certificate in Educational Leadership from Cambridge College, and a Ph.D. in Educational Leadership from Argosy University. Education was not just her profession it was her calling, her passion, and her lifelong mission.

Her career took her across states and even across continents. Faye taught in schools throughout Georgia and Mississippi, including Mt. Zion Elementary, Cook Elementary, and Clayton County Schools. She embraced every opportunity to reach learners, even teaching virtually to students in China. She served as a Team Leader and grade-level chair in multiple schools, earning the respect of colleagues who admired her clarity, her confidence, and her unwavering commitment to excellence. She was a proud member of the Georgia Education Association and the American Federation of Teachers.

Faye’s life journey allowed her to travel and live in many places, but she ultimately made her home in McDonough, Georgia, where she lived until her peaceful transition on April 11, 2026. She was married twice and was blessed with four beautiful children, whom she loved fiercely. Her children remember her as a strong disciplinarian, firm, consistent, and principled yet overflowing with love, generosity, and a spirit that made every lesson feel like an act of care.

Among the Stewart sisters, education was a shared legacy: together they earned five bachelor’s, four master’s, one specialist, and two Ph.D. degrees. All five sisters are proud members of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., and Faye was inducted into the Golden Triangle Alumnae Chapter on April 28, 1999, a milestone she cherished deeply.

Outside of her professional accomplishments, Faye was full of personality and joy. She loved reality television, especially Real Housewives of Atlanta and every version of Love & Hip-Hop. She enjoyed scary movies, grape popsicles, summer days at the beach, and all things that were beauty and makeup. She was articulate, stylish, funny, and famously bossy in the most loving way. Her presence filled a room, and her voice both spoken and sung carried strength and grace.

Faye was preceded in death by her father, Former City Councilman Fred Stewart, Jr. and several beloved aunts, uncles, and cousins. Her passing came just days before she would have celebrated her 65th birthday on April 23, 2026, a milestone to her family and friends now honored in her memory.

Faye loved God and served Him faithfully. Her beautiful voice was a gift she liked to use when attending New Macedonia Church in Riverdale, GA. She also attended church virtually with Oak Grove M.B. Church in Columbus, MS when unable to attend in person.

Dr. Tywanda Faye Stewart Smart will be remembered as a woman of brilliance, leadership, humor, and with a big heart as a mother, sister, educator, Soror, and friend whose legacy will continue to shape the lives of all who were blessed to know her. She lived with purpose, loved with intention, and leaves behind a story worthy of honor.

She leaves to cherish her memory: Mother: Frances Jones Stewart; Children, Brian Maupin, Jr., Francie Maupin, Crystal Smart, Diamond Smart; Siblings; Dr. Cynthia Brown (Marvin), Vanessa Stewart (Victor). Yolanda Campbell (John), Melodie Cunningham (Therman); Grandchild: Markell Maupin; Niece: Olivia Irions; Nephew; Wesley Campbell, Jr. and a host of aunts, uncles, cousins, other relatives, dear friends, colleagues, church family, and loved ones who will forever cherish her memory.

Dr. Tywanda Faye Stewart Smart leaves behind a legacy that will endure for generations. Her impact on education, her devotion to faith, and her boundless love for family and community have left an indelible mark on all who were blessed to know her. She was a living sermon woman whose life preached louder than any words ever could. Though she has transitioned from labor to reward, her spirit lives on in every life she touched, every student she inspired, every heart she warmed, and every soul she pointed toward the light. We do not mourn those without hope, for we know that she rests now in the loving arms of her Savior, where there is no more sorrow, no more pain, and only everlasting joy.