James Preston Stewart is the son of James V. Stewart, the co-founder of Stewart & Calhoun Funeral Home.

Preston graduated from St. Vincent-St. Mary High School in Akron and the University of Tennessee in Knoxville, Tennessee with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Chemical Engineering.  While at the University of Tennessee, Preston was in the engineering co-op program with the Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company in Akron. Upon graduating he was employed with The Dupont Chemical Corporation in Wilmington, Delaware for five years, then the Ciba Vision Corporation in Duluth, Georgia for two years. 

Preston then decided to pursue a funeral business career and enrolled into Gupton-Jones College of Funeral Service.  After graduating Valedictorian in July of 1995, Preston moved back to Akron to join the staff of Stewart & Calhoun Funeral Home where he is currently employed.  Preston has participated in YMTF (Youth Motivational Task Force) as a motivational speaker and Urban Ounce of Prevention as a mentor. He is a member of Wesley Temple AME Zion Church where he serves as a member of the Senior Usher and Trustee Boards, Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Inc., the Masons- Phoenix Lodge 112, and a life member of the NAACP.