WEEMS—Lemuel Carl “Lem” Stewart Jr. was born July 31, 1946, in Whiteville, N.C., and after a courageous four-year battle with cancer died June 29, 2025, at his home on the Corrotoman River in Weems. His wife of 48 years, Pat Burgess, was at his side.
Lem loved the river. He loved fishing, sailing and boating, and hunting with friends in the surrounding woods. An even greater passion was golf. He loved playing on some of the greatest courses in the country and in Scotland with Pat and their friends. Through the years, Lem relished having time to hone his golf skills whenever he could.
A graduate of East Tennessee State University, Lem used his expertise in the information technology arena to found Health Communication Services, creating efficient billing systems for doctors and hospitals under the Anthem umbrella.
Lem was adept at building alliances between business and government. While serving as director of the department of information technology for the Commonwealth of Virginia, and as chief information officer of the Virginia Information Technology Agency (VITA), he consolidated 85 statewide governmental computer systems into one. Within that cost-cutting project, he established a data center in southwest Virginia, bringing much-needed job opportunities to that rural area. He later consulted for Advantus Strategies, specializing in forging business and government.
Lem was recognized nationally for his innovation in governmental technology. IBM presented him its Leadership Award in 2005, and “Government Technology” magazine named him one of America’s “25 Top Doers, Dreamers & Drivers” in 2006.
He was, above all, a good neighbor and friend, stepping up in storms, sharing vegetables from his summer garden, and steaming thousands upon thousands of crabs caught from his dock.
He was predeceased by his parents, Lemuel C. Stewart Sr. and Inez Hardwick Stewart; and his sister, Jerry Lynn Stewart Smith.
He is survived by his wife, Pat; his sister, Kaye Stewart Guinn, her husband B.H. Guinn, and their children, Kimberly and Thomas; and his beloved beagle, Lulu.
Lem was a long-time member of Kilmarnock Methodist Church. Interment of ashes will be held at his family’s gravesite in Wallace, S.C., with a Celebration of Life to be held later. Should friends desire to offer memorials for Lem, Pat suggests The Boys & Girls Club of the Northern Neck, 517 North Main Street, Kilmarnock, VA 22482, or Bgcnn.org.
Currie Funeral Home LLC of Kilmarnock handled the arrangements.
