Lovie Wiggins Ewell, “Lovie Jane”, age 86, of Wilmington, NC, went home to be with Jesus on Tuesday, April 9, 2019.
She was born in Craven County on October 25, 1932. She is survived by her son, Homer Allen Ewell; three granddaughters, Karen Allen (Michael), Victoria Keener, Loretta Graham (Jason); great grandchildren, Cary, Laurie, Coleman, Riley, Ethan, Kristin, and Karianna Lovie; and sister Jewell Hogan and husband Bobby. She was preceded in death by her parents, Clifton Wiggins and Mary Williams; her husband, Edward Homer Ewell; her daughter, Jean Ewell; and daughter-in-law, Sandra Sue Ewell.
Lovie attended school in Vanceboro, NC, was a nursing assistant, homemaker, and attended Damascus Road Church. She was a kindhearted, hardworking woman, who loved her family, animals, nature, and above all, Jesus.
Lovie was a strong, persistent lady, full of life and imagination. She was a dreamer, who saw the best in others and enjoyed the simple things in life. She loved the outdoors, the sound of the birds, flowers in bloom, the way the hummingbirds hovered at the feeder, and watching the bobtail squirrels scurry up the trees. No bird in her yard went without a birdhouse, especially the blue birds. Over the years she looked after her beloved dogs, cats, horses, and even two lucky raccoons. Any injured creature was sure to receive the best treatment in her care.
Lovie could sew. She worked for years at Century Mills sewing in mass production, but from home she sewed in detail on her antique pedal machine. From darts to hems and curtains to embroidery lines, Lovie could create whatever project was needed to get a job done. She could take a remnant of pretty fabric others would have tossed away and craft a masterpiece for the most insignificant thing, bringing about joy in an otherwise unnoticed place.
Her smile could light up a room and her stories came to life before your eyes. To hear her talk about living in Tampa, Florida, made you feel the sunshine on your skin, hear the ducks that would lay eggs by the palmetto bushes, and smell the air coming in and out of the sandwich shop in town while sitting next to the business men and women on their lunch breaks. Describing grade school would take you to the front row seat of an old school auditorium where the seats creaked during a play performance, watch her swinging with a classmate, and hear her singing the themed song in her ruffled dress adorned with her auburn waves of hair.
Lovie was a helper. Whether it was giving away a beautiful dress as a child that she had been given by her Aunt Lila, simply because a fellow friend had never had one quite so nice; taking orders for her Uncle Roy on his route for Raleigh products; cleaning a friend’s home during a hospital stay without ever letting her know it was her; packing a sandwich and drink for a town straggler; or faithfully caring for her husband of 67 years, she helped. You were always sure to learn something from her. Lovie would teach you the home remedy for just about any ailment and you were sure to make a new found discovery if you walked her property with her. Many saw her in the same places as if she had a routine, but inside she was full of adventure and spending time with her meant there was never a dull moment.
Lovie loved her son, Allen. The two had an unbreakable bond formed through years of working together as a team, leaning on each other for support, and knowing Jesus as their Savior. She was proud of him and who he had become.
She brought about the best in whatever situation she could. That’s who she was. A survivor. A fighter. Against all odds in life, Lovie put one foot in front of the other to trust Jesus with her every step. To hear her pray, was to hear her heart. A calm ensued and a peace overwhelmed any time she honored the Lord in prayer and humbly thanked Him for what was most important to her, family. In leaving this earth, she left behind dementia to walk on streets of gold and never have another worry again. Praise the Lord.
Come join the family for Lovie’s Homegoing Celebration on Sunday, April, 14, 2019 at Wrightsville Avenue Church of God, located at 2132 Wrightsville Avenue in Wilmington, NC. Visitation will be held at 4pm, and the funeral service will begin at 5pm. The burial will be on Monday at noon at the Coastal Carolina State Veterans Cemetery in Jacksonville, NC.
In lieu of flowers memorials can be made to the Wrightsville Avenue Church of God Youth Fund.
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