Stewart Hamill Harris

AIKEN, SC - Mr. Stewart Hamill Harris, 74, died recently in his sleep.

     He was born on February 13, 1949, in Birmingham, Alabama to Joseph Herbert and Rosa Stewart Harris. He moved to Aiken with his family in 1957 and attended Mead Hall School, Kennedy Jr High School and graduated from Aiken High School in 1967.

     Music was always his love and he taught himself to play the guitar at a young age. During his high school years, he performed with friends in The Intruders. After several years at the University of South Carolina, Stewart left school to pursue his music career. Brief stints in Prince Edward Island, New York City, and Washington DC took him, in 1975, to Nashville, where he recorded an album, Sing Me A Rainbow, and focused on writing music. He successfully wrote number 1 hits for several recording artists, including Travis Tritt and Wynonna Judd. In all, Stewart collaborated on nine number-one songs.

     Stewart lived in Nashville until 2020 when he returned to Aiken.

     He is survived by his sister, Lynne Rachal (Butch) and two nephews, Sean Rachal (Angie) of Aiken and Brian Rachal of Granite Falls, Washington, a great-niece Laura Rachal of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, A great-nephew Timothy Rachal of Whidbey Island, Washington. Stewart was married twice and had two stepchildren by his second wife, Beth Harris.

     A celebration of life will be held at 3:00 PM on Sunday, June 25, 2023 at the Outing Club,142 Outing Club Rd, Aiken, SC.

     In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Joseph Harris Scholarship Fund at Mead Hall School, 619 Barnwell Ave, NW, Aiken, SC 29801, attn: Diane Goodson.

SHELLHOUSE FUNERAL HOME, INC., 924 HAYNE AVE., AIKEN, SC 29801.