Who Are Steward & James?

I have always mentioned how family is the heart of our business and how we love to name our pieces after loved ones. Allow me to introduce you to the true faces behind Steward & James: my grandfathers.

Let's start with Steward

Steward is actually his middle name. Al Steward Heroman (A.S.H.) was a loving husband of 60 years, a father of 5 and grandfather of 9. He was basically a superhero. He was an Air Force veteran and local football legend.

He played football for the LSU Fighting Tigers from 1946 to 1948 as right halfback. He played in the 1947 Cotton Bowl, known as the famous "Ice Bowl," and he set several football records during his LSU career. While all that happened long before I was born, to me, he was Paw Paw.

He was a giant with the most beautiful white head of hair and the comfiest chair. He regularly took me on snoball dates and let me play "salon" with his hair (as long as the Tigers were not on TV). Being the youngest in the family, we spent many summer days together, mostly watching M*A*S*H. He loved a good pair of pajama pants and had no problem leaving the house in them.

When he passed away in August 2011, my heart shattered. Many people remember where they were the exact moment they heard certain news, and that is a moment my mind will not let me forget. We had a special bond, and he was the first loss I ever experienced. He was my best friend and I was his little "Tweety Bird."

Now meet James

James Lee Andrews was a loving husband of 70 years, a father of 2 and grandfather of 3. He was a true American hero. He served in the Army Air Corps during World War II as a tail gunner on the B-17 and flew to Normandy on D-Day. He was also a brilliant chemist.

Again, all that happened long before I was born. To me, he was Granddaddy. He had a magical garden full of every vegetable I could think of and a big workshop full of tools and treasures. He would pull a little trailer on his tractor and drive us around "the farm." He knew the value of a good nap and how to fry the best catfish. Overall he was a quiet, simple man, but he knew the value of family.

He called me "pistol" when I was younger, until one day I realized I couldn't remember the last time he called me that. I asked him why, and he smiled and said, "Well, you're all grown up. Now you're a shotgun." Granddaddy passed away in November 2017 at the age of 93.

Why we are Steward & James

Both of these men shaped my life in different ways. They each taught me different things, but both showed me how to live a life full of love. During the beginning phases of Steward & James, I knew I wanted a name that was more than just the name of a company. There had to be meaning behind the words.

In those two words there are countless hours of story times, adventures, nicknames and incredible old men with the comfiest chairs. Paw Paw's initials are A.S.H. and Granddaddy's middle name is Lee. Combine those two and you get me, Ashley Leigh. These two men were the beginning of my own story from day one, so it only seemed fitting to continue their legacy with our company.

Family is behind every aspect of Steward & James. Not just the company name, but the names and stories behind each piece of jewelry. We are on a mission to create beautiful things that can become cherished reminders of beautiful people. We encourage you to submit your own loved ones as part of our Name the Jewelry Contest before each new collection. As we continue to grow, we promise to bring you along, never forgetting the people who guided us here.

XOXO, Ash
Owner and Creative Director

Shop online or visit us in person at 10155 Perkins Rowe, Suite 180D, Baton Rouge (next to Altar'd State).