Alice Annie (Pettis) McEwen

Mrs. Alice Annie (Pettis) McEwen, was born the eldest of four children to the late Andrew and Maddie (Cole) Pettis, on July 2, 1936, in Oxford, MS.  

Being reared in a Christian home, Alice professed her heart to her Lord and Savior at an early age and was baptized at Buford Chapel United Methodist Church. She worked tirelessly in her church and served in many capacities from choir member, usher, Sunday school teacher, interim treasurer, Sunday school secretary, trustee and long standing church janitor. She loved her church and church family and remained a faithful member until her death. 

In 1989, She received her General Education Diploma from Oxford Training School which was administered through Mrs. Alice McGlown. 

“Mrs. Nig,” as she was affectionately called by her family and friends, united in holy matrimony to the love of her life, Jeffie L. McEwen, on December 8, 1956. Five children were born to this blessed union. 

Alice’s employment journey begun at the University of Mississippi where she worked as a custodian for 37 years before retiring. Choosing not to sit down and looking for a way to spend her ‘retired’ time, she became a foster grandparent through the Lafayette County Foster Grandparent Program. Under this program, Alice worked for Oxford Elementary School as well as North Mississippi Regional Center. After 20 years of fostering, Alice retired. Fostering gave her the opportunity to touch so many lives and gain a multitude of grandchildren, all of which called her “Granny.” 

Being a nurturer came naturally for Alice. She was a mother figure to her younger siblings, and they often joked about thinking she was in charge of everything. She was a great cook and when Sundays and the holidays rolled around, the family would flock to her house to get some of her dressing, peach cobbler, sweet potato pie, and butter rolls. Alice had several cookbooks but didn’t need any of them because she cooked so good. 

To know Alice, one knew that she was a traveling woman who loved her family. In her spare time, she enjoyed sitting on the porch with Mr. Jeff, cooking, playing bingo, shopping, working crossword puzzles, sitting in her recliner while watching Family Feud, Wheel of Fortune, and Judge Judy, chatting on the telephone with her church buddies, going to Belk and Kroger (two of her favorite places to be), and most of all, spending time with her family on vacations, cruises, and holidays. She was strong willed, resilient, a woman of faith, and a fighter until the very end. Her family considered her to be a comedian as she always talked trash and had something funny to say. 

From August 2022 – January 2023, Alice showed her resilience, determination, and strong will again and again. On Wednesday, January 25, 2023, she heard her Savior whisper, “well done, my good and faithful servant.” She closed her eyes and quietly answered her Master’s call, while surrounded by family. 

Oh how she will be missed, cherished, and loved forever by her husband of 66 years, Jeffie L. McEwen of Oxford, MS; children, Kelvin McEwen of Waterloo, IA, Debra (Larry) Buford of Richton Park, IL, and Cathy Fountain of Oxford, MS; a host of grandchildren, great grandchildren, and great great grandchildren; siblings, David Pettis of Waterloo, IA and Mattie (James) Kearney of Posen, IL; brother-in-law, Calvin McEwen of Tampa, FL; two aunts, Beverly Johnson of Florida and Lula Watts of Alabama; a host of nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends. 

Alice was preceded in death by her parents; children, Willie B. McEwen, Jeffrey L. Lynn McEwen, one grandchild; sister, Katie Mae Price; one daughter-in-law; 10 brothers-in-law; and seven sisters-in-law.