Mary Ellen Sewell

Mary Ellen Cummings Sewell was the youngest of six children born to Luther Cummings and Mamie E. Goggans Cummings. She was born on July 13, 1934 in Pontotoc County, Pontotoc, MS.

She attended Harmony School and then transferred to Pontotoc City Schools. She was a 1952 graduate of Pontotoc High School and was instrumental in keeping the class reunion going for 65 years.

On January 16, 1955, she married John Edward Sewell. They were married almost 65 years. They had two children, Jeff Sewell and Jenna Sewell Patterson.

Mary Ellen was employed with the Union Gas Company for 21 years. In 1988 she began working for the Mississippi State Extension Services as the lead Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program assistant. She retired from there in 2002.

Mary Ellen was an active member of First Baptist Church of Pontotoc where she worked in the children’s department in both Sunday school and Training Union. For many years she worked in Children’s Bible Drills, serving as a judge on the Church, Associational and State levels. She loved being a part of the Women’s Missionary Union (WMU) where she was an active member of the Doris Compere Group serving on various committees through the years.

After having a severe and long battle with cancer in 1992 and years following, she became involved in Relay for Life, where she worked with the survivors teams for many years. She also became involved with Camp Bluebird, a weekend retreat for cancer survivors. She served as New Camper Orientation leader for many years.

Mary Ellen was an active member of the Fine Arts Club for more than 50 years, where she served as president, as well as other committees over the years.

A celebration of Life Service will be held at 11:00 AM, Wednesday, June 7, 2023 at First Baptist Church, with Dr. Ken Hester officiating; burial will follow in Pontotoc Memorial Gardens. Browning Funeral Home in Pontotoc is honored to assist the family with the arrangements.

Survivors include her children, Jeffrey Sewell (Judy) and Jenna Sewell Patterson (Mark); four grandchildren, Claire Martin (Tyler), Clayton Sewell (Caitlin); Caitlin Patterson and Lyndsay Patterson; and one great-granddaughter, Piper Martin.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Luther and Mamie Goggans Cummings; her husband, John Edward Sewell; and three sisters, Lucille Cummings, Nell Johnson and Emma Gene Bryan; and two brothers, Grover Cummings and Charles Cummings.

Pallbearers will be Mark Crenshaw, Drew Waldrop, Dr. Steve Montgomery, Scott Hatcher, David Ray and Barry Carnes.

Visitation will be from 5 to 7 PM Tuesday and from 10 to 11 AM, Wednesday, all at First Baptist Church in Pontotoc.

Memorials may be made to First Baptist Church Building Fund, 31 W. Washington Street, Pontotoc, MS 38863.

Condolences may be offered at www.browningpontotoc.com