Mattie Lee Williams Ewell

Mattie Lee (LaMoore) Williams Ewell, age 94, passed away August 4, 2016 following a courageous battle with Alzheimer’s disease.  Mattie was born May 26, 1922 in Canton, MS.  Mattie was the youngest of eight children born to the union of Mollie and Lawrence LaMoore. Mattie attended school in the Canton, MS school district and graduated from St. Mary’s Catholic School of Nursing where she earned her Nursing degree and began her career as a Registered Nurse (RN).  Mattie loved nursing and taking care of others and as a result, her career took her all across the United States and Canada.  She married Hiram Williams, Sr. and to this union, two children, Hiram (Buddy) and Kay Francis were born.  The family later relocated to Denver, CO.  Mattie worked as a Private Duty Nurse and eventually relocated to Winnipeg, Canada.  After leaving Canada, Mattie moved to Detroit where she worked at Detroit Receiving Hospital. In 1948, Mattie along with her two children, relocated to Benton Harbor, MI and she began her long tenure at Campy’s Rest Home (which would later be renamed Park Wayne Manor) in St. Joseph, MI as the head nurse of the facility until her retirement in 1982. On September 9, 1950 she married Cornell Ewell, Sr. and to this union two children were born, Barbara Ann and Cornell Lloyd.  They remained married for over 50 years until his passing in 2001. Mattie loved our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.  She was baptized as a child and dedicated her life to serving Him and praising His holy name.  Mattie attended SS John and Bernard Catholic Parish in Benton Harbor before joining Hopewell Missionary Baptist Church where she served many years as the president of the choir.  She later became a member of the usher board where she served until her health began to decline. Mattie leaves to mourn her passing, a daughter Barbara Ann Ewell-Bruins and a son Cornell Lloyd Ewell, Jr.; 14 grandchildren; one brother-in-law; four sisters-in-law and a host of great, great-great and great-great-great grandchildren, nieces, nephews and friends.  Mattie was preceded in death by her parents; her siblings; two children, Hiram (Buddy) and Kay Francis Williams-Scott; two husbands; four grandchildren and one son-in-law. Funeral services will be held Thursday August 11, 2016 at Hopewell Missionary Baptist Church, 756 Highland Ave., Benton Harbor, MI with the family receiving friends at 10:00am.  The services will begin at 11:00 am.  Interment will be at North Shore Memory Gardens. Arrangements entrusted to Starks & Menchinger Chapel & Cremation Services, St. Joseph. Those wishing to sign Mattie’s Memory Book online may do so at www.starks-menchinger.com.