Mr. S. J. Ewing
S. J. Ewing was born to the late William (Jink) Ewing and Katie Lee Ewing Samuel on April 21, 1940 in the Shady Grove community of Escambia County, AL. He had ten sisters and six brothers. He went to his Heavenly Home on Sunday, February 22, 2015. S. J. was preceded in death by his son Dwaine, his wife Ella Mae, nine sisters, and five brothers.
He attended Elementary and Jr. High School in the China and Lime Hill communities up until the 9th grade. He then began working to support his family. At the age of seventeen, S. J. moved to the Sparta Hill community where shortly thereafter he began working with Joe Pate in the paperwood and fence pole business.
It was in the Sparta community where S. J. met Ella Mae Roache when she was gathering water from the spring and he was riding his bicycle. On September 20, 1960, they were united in matrimony. To this union four children were born: Dwaine Elvin, Sammie J., Michael Elroy and Sheila Marie. They lovingly added Lorenza Roache to their family.
S. J. became a member of Sparta Hill UMC, where he served faithfully. He served on several auxiliaries, including Superintendent of the Sunday School, Board Trustee, Church Steward, and as a member of the choir.
In an effort to improve his quality of life, S. J. began the craft of carpentry. Together with his son Elroy, and nephews, Guy and James Earl Roche, he remodeled many houses and even constructed a few. His greatest reward was the construction of his own home.
On April 19, 1971, S. J. began his 34 year career with the Container Corporation of America, now known as the GP Corp. During these 34 years, he served in several capacities, including: chip handler, chip feeder, blockbuster and then lastly, as a crane operator. He retired in 2005.
S. J. was a member of The Flying Clouds singing group, where he played bass guitar. Later, teaching his son Sammie J. to do the same. He had a real love for music and would sing really loud. He loved farming, especially riding his tractor. He also really enjoyed shopping, particularly loved to buy clothes and shoes, and was a very classy dresser. He was an avid sportsman, hunting wild game and fishing. He also enjoyed barbecuing and baking his famous sweet potatoe pies. He was a baseball enthusiast and in recent years attended several professional baseball games including the L. A. Dodgers and San Francisco Giants.
He leaves to cherish his memory two sons: Sammie J. (Terri) Ewing, Los Angeles, CA, Michael Elroy (Charlotte) Ewing, Evergreen, AL; daughter, Sheila Marie Ewing, Los Angeles, CA; four grandchildren; five great-grandchildren; brother, James (Albertha) Ewing, Brewton, AL; sister, Lillie Ruth Ewing, Mansfield, OH; sisters-in-laws: Lucy Norris, Pensacola, FL, Clara Holt, Equilla Gross, Birmingham, AL, and Annie Lois Etheridge, Evergreen, AL; and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, other relatives and many friends.
Dear Willie Mae, Ewings & Travis Families,
We know your loss is deep and your sorrow is great, but we want you to know that we share in your sorrow, but more importantly, we recognize that this loss is Heaven's gain. We are praying for you and your families.
In Christian love, Aldersgate UMC Shepherds, Warrensville Heights, Ohio