Joy McEwen
Joy McEwen
April 5, 1944 – July 8, 2023
Joy Mitchell McEwen, 79, of Tylertown, who owned and operated McEwen Auto Parts for nearly 30 years, passed away at his home on July 8, 2023, leaving this earth and being present with the Lord at 9:34 p.m. He was born on April 5, 1944, to the late Estella and John Wesley McEwen. He was preceded in death by his granddaughter Jennifer Sides, great-granddaughter Bailey Randall, older brother Paul Gaylon McEwen and sister-in-law Shirriel. Visitation will be held on Monday, July 10, 2023 from 6:00 PM until 9:00 PM at Union Baptist Church, 345 MS-27 N Tylertown, MS 39667. Visitation will also be held Tuesday, July 11, 2023 from 2:00 PM until funeral service at 3:00 PM. Reverends Buddy Day, Millard Moak, and Dr. Ron Jordan will be officiating. In honor of his wishes, interment will be in Tylertown Cemetery next to his granddaughter.
Joy was continuously surrounded by his family during the last days of his life. There will forever be a hole in the hearts of all his family. He was loved by all of us. We are deeply saddened that he is no longer with us, but we rest in the fact that he is now living in heaven. We stand firm in the belief that we will see him again. For now, we know that he is walking those streets of gold, in a land that is fairer than day. Heaven gained one great man, who was beloved by his family.
Survivors include his wife Jo Ann Webb McEwen; daughter Pamela Sue (Cecil) Brumfield, and sons Robert Wayne (Amy) McEwen and Dr. Johnathan Jay (Cynthia) McEwen, all of Tylertown, MS. He is survived by 9 grandchildren: Christa (Kyle) Bacot, Michael Brumfield, Emily (Buddy) Delancey, Wyatt (Tiffany) Brumfield, Ian McEwen, Aiden McEwen, Connor McEwen of Tylertown, Megan (Morgan) Buckley of Columbia, Hope (Derran) Brown of Montana; and 7 great-grandchildren: Brentley Sides, Izzabella Bacot, Kason Bacot, Waelyn Buckley, Harper Brown, Hudson Brown, and Grayson McNeese.
Pallbearers were Robert McEwen, Dr. Johnathan McEwen, Cecil A. Brumfield Jr., Michael Brumfield, Wyatt Brumfield, Ian McEwen, Aiden McEwen, Connor McEwen, Brentley Sides, and Shane McKenzie. Honorary pallbearers were Kyle Bacot, Buddy Delancey, Morgan Buckley, Derran Brown, and the deacons of Union Baptist Church.
Joy was never a stranger to hard work, something for which he was well-known. He worked for Borden Milk Company from 1968-1983, before operating McEwen’s Auto Parts which was located in the middle of town, from 1983 until his retirement in 2012. During this time, he served the Town of Tylertown for 8 years as a city alderman. If you ever went into the store you got to witness firsthand his love for people. He would help anyone in need or find someone who could. Many times, people would just stop by to chat with him from across the counter. Outside of the store, it was typical of Joy to grow a humongous garden and let his kids and grandkids “help” with the picking or with snapping and shelling. Sunday lunches always meant that he would find some chore that needed the attention of almost every male member of the family.
As much as he loved to stay busy, he loved his family more. He and his wife, JoAnn, were married for over 58 years. He was a true family man. Besides Sunday lunch, which JoAnn lovingly cooked every Sunday, Joy had a swimming pool and go-carts to be sure his kids and grandkids were always entertained. In later years, a fort was added for additional fun times with the grandkids and great-grandkids. Many times, he could be found on his swing that was perfectly placed under a giant oak tree in the front yard. In that front yard, from that swing, many conversations and laughs were shared between Joy and his family.
Most importantly, Joy McEwen was a man of God. He had a fierce love for Jesus Christ that he was never ashamed of, and he would tell everyone. He was active in church activities at Union Baptist Church, serving as a deacon and music minister for nearly 50 years. JoAnn played the piano and Joy led the music. Some people say that they don’t love hymns and prefer more contemporary music, to those people we say, “You never heard Joy McEwen sing them.” His voice could shake the pews of the church when he was singing one of his favorites like “How Great Thou Art.”
Hartman Hughes Funeral Home was in charge of the arrangements.
(Wording and space exceeds Times policy. Space paid for by family)
