Juanita Tew

Juanita S. Tew, of Birmingham Alabama, went home to be with the Lord on February 28, 2022 at the age of 89. Juanita Spivey was born on September 10, 1932, to Ethel and William McKinley (Mac) Spivey. An only child of a Methodist minister, Juanita attended Asbury College in Kentucky for a year before marrying L. Earl Tew of Slocomb, Alabama on April 4, 1953.

Juanita Tew is survived by her husband of nearly 69 years, L. Earl Tew; her three children, David E. Tew (Melody), C. Delane Tew (Nancy), and W. Mark Tew (Ann); her seven grandchildren Rachael Tew, Elyse Weeks (Robert), Clara Owenby, Wesley Tew (Lara), Jonathan Tew, Nicole Bean (Ryan), and Justin Moody; and ten great-grandchildren, or as she called them, her precious babies.

A godly example of a Proverbs 31 woman, wife, mother, grandmother, and great grandmother, Juanita was the epitome of a dignified southern lady who was a confidant and friend to everyone who entered her gracious and charming company. Juanita Tew worked in the home raising her three children. After all three had begun school, she pursued the completion of her own education. Juanita earned a bachelor’s degree and a master’s degree, both in teacher education, from Samford University. With these degrees she embarked on a calling as an elementary school teacher. Juanita shaped young minds for many years at two different schools, the Rocky Ridge Elementary School in Jefferson County and the Southside Elementary School in Dothan. Even though she enjoyed teaching school, her labor of love was being a helpmate to her husband as a pastor’s wife, effortlessly assisting him in their ministry. At the churches to which they were called, Juanita was a constant example of the love of Jesus Christ. She taught Sunday School for young women and, with a servant’s heart, accepted various committee assignments. Juanita became renowned for her women’s Sunday school lessons and was asked to serve as a Sunday School consultant with the Alabama Baptist State Convention. Juanita joined her husband in fulfilling the Great Commission on several overseas ministry projects, including teaching English as a second language in China. Her love for missions compelled her to engage widely in missions’ education, leading and participated in WMU circles across the state. Juanita was a regular contributor of the WMU publication Missions Mosaic and frequently led the annual missions study in Alabama Baptist churches. Juanita’s writing was not limited to denominational causes as she was a regular contributor to the periodical Around Dothan where her articles demonstrated practical faith in everyday life. Juanita will be remembered by all that knew her as a godly woman who loved the Lord and served him tirelessly. “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to me on that day, and not only to me but also to all who have loved his appearing (2 Timothy 4:7–8).

The family will receive friends on Thursday, March 3, 2022 from 5:30 pm to 7:00 pm at Lakeside Baptist Church, and on Friday, March 4, 2022 from 10:00 to 11:00 am. Funeral service will be on Friday, March 4, 2022 at 11:00 am at the church with Dr. Greg Corbin officiating. Interment will be in Jefferson Memorial Gardens, South on Hwy. 150 in Hoover. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to the Alabama Children's Home, www.alabamachild.org.