Dr. Tonea Stewart (born February 3, 1947) is an American actress and University Professor best known for her role as Aunt Etta on the television series In the Heat of the Night.
Stewart was born in Greenwood, Mississippi, the daughter of Hattie Juanita (née Leonard) and Thomas Ezekiel Harris. She has appeared in numerous TV shows and movies. Formerly a high school teacher in Jackson, Mississippi, she taught Speech at Jackson State University before she became the Director of Theatre Arts at Alabama State University. She narrated the acclaimed Remembering Slavery radio program.
Dr. Stewart is a member of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority Incorporated.
