Funeral services for the Rev. LutherMcEwen, of Magnolia, are 11 a.m. on Saturday, Sept. 24, at GraceLeggett Auditorium, South Pike High School with burial in Pink HillM.B. Church Cemetery. Washington Funeral Home is in charge ofarrangements.

    Visitation is Friday from 11 a.m. until 2 p.m. at WashingtonFuneral Home and 3:30 p.m. until 8 p.m. at Pink Hill MBC; andSaturday 10 a.m. until 11 a.m. at Grace Leggett Auditorium.

    The Rev. McEwen, 93, died Sept. 16, 2011, at St. Dominic Hospital.He was born in Magnolia on April 26, 1918, to the Rev. EugeneMcEwen and Ellen Conerly McEwen.

    He served the Christian community for 65 years as a pastor of over20 churches in three states, and as President and Dean of HarperBaptist Seminary in Magnolia, the only religious institution of itskind in Pike County devoted to the religious training ofAfrican-American missionaries, teachers and preachers. The Rev.McEwen was an advocate for education and a graduate of JacksonState University.

    Preceding him in death were his first wife, Alma Rayborn McEwen;his parents; three brothers; three sisters; and a grandson, DennisAlexander.

    Survivors are his wife of nearly 29 years, Celess Barnes McEwen ofMagnolia; sons, Jerry and wife, Patricia, of Chicago, Matthew andwife, Bernice, of Flint, Mo., Luther Jr. and wife, Catherine ofMilwaukee, the Rev. Elton and wife, Verna, of McComb, Harry andwife, Sun, of Flossmoor, Ill., and Fred and wife, Ara, ofFlossmoor, Ill.; daughters, Ruby J. Weathersby and husband, Walter,of Rantoul, Ill., Mary E. Alexander, Betty Campbell, attorneyCatherine Nichols and husband, Dr. Reuben, Deborah Morgan andhusband, Edward, and Gwendolyn F. McEwen, all of Chicago; twostepsons, Sebron Barnes and wife, Tina, and David Barnes and wife,Melissa, of Atlanta; four stepdaughters, Cynthia Graves ofMagnolia, Mary Alice Bogan and husband, Tommy, of Seattle, attorneyMandie Barnes of Tukwilla, Wash., and Dr. Sebronette Aborem andhusband, Emerson, of Columbia; 41 grandchildren; 48great-grandchildren; 11 great-great-grandchildren; several brothersand sisters-in-law; and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, andfriends.

    Memorial contributions may be made to the Rev. Luther E. McEwenMemorial Scholarship, Jackson State University Development Fund,P.O. Box 17144, Jackson, MS 39127, or by calling 601-979-2357.