Mary Elizabeth (Starnes) Sewell

Mary Elizabeth Starnes Sewell, resident of Hernando, Mississippi, former resident of Fayette County and retired director for the State of Tennessee Department of Tourism entered into rest Sunday, December 23, 2012 at her residence. She was 75 years of age.

Services of Remembrance for Mrs. Sewell were conducted at 2:30 P.M. Sunday, December 30th at the Peebles West Funeral Chapel at Oakland with Pastor Robert Thomas of Church of the Harvest in Olive Branch, Mississippi officiating. Interment followed in the Walls Cemetery at Braden. Arrangements were provided by Peebles Fayette County Funeral Homes & Cremation Center — West Chapel at Oakland.

Mrs. Sewell was born August 4, 1937 in Galloway, Tennessee. She was preceded in death by her parents, Johnny Starnes and Elizabeth Adkison Starnes. She received her education in Tennessee Public School Systems. Mrs. Sewell was a Christian and a person involved in community, government and political activities for much of her life. She served on the staff of Tennessee Governor Ned McWhertor during his administration and was a former employee of the Shelby County Sheriff’s Department.

Mrs. Sewell represented Tennessee in the 2000 Bicentennial Celebration and she was involved with the Memphis and Tennessee Tourism Department for a number of years, serving as Regional Director for the West Tennessee Department of Tourism before her retirement.

She was a lifelong resident of Fayette, Shelby and DeSoto counties and was a resident of Olive Branch for 13 years before moving to Hernando.

Mrs. Sewell is survived by three daughters, Janice Sewell (Joseph) of Memphis, Lycia Sewell Callahan of Olive Branch, MS, Donna Leird of Olive Branch, MS; her sister, Connie Sink (Jimmy) of Amory, MS; 11 grandchildren, 8 great grandchildren, 2 expected great grandchildren; a brother-in-law, Lloyd Jones of Braden; and a host of beloved nieces and nephews.

Mrs. Sewell was preceded in death by her beloved sister, Ann Jones of Braden.

Those honored to serve as casketbearers were Wesley Callahan, Jeremy Callahan, Joseph Townsel, Jr., Brian Leird, Alan Leird and Jakob Leird.
Honorary casketbearers were John Sinn, Jason Scallorn and Joseph Townsel.

The family requests that memorials be directed to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105.