Billy Joe Tew

Billy Joe was born on March 6, 1943 to Sallie Baggett and Elmo Franklin Tew. He graduated from Stonewall High School in 1961 and like many folks from Stonewall, went to work at Burlington Denim Factory.  After realizing that was not what he wanted to do, he went to work in the oil fields in the Gulf of Mexico.  He retired from Shell Oil and after a brief retirement went to work for a friend that had a drilling consulting business (ADTI) which merged with Transocean Oil. After 15+ more years in the oil fields he finally retired for good.

Billy Joe was an avid outdoorsman, spending his days at home from work in the woods hunting deer, rabbit, squirrel, turkeys or in a boat fishing.  His two greatest loves in the outdoors was turkey hunting or catfishing. He enjoyed going to the Tombigbee River and sitting in a boat in the wash of the spillway catching those big catfish but his greatest outdoor love was turkey hunting.  Using handmade calls from cedar (his own or those made by Prince Buckalew) he would trick those big old toms into their untimely deaths.  He had two sayings when teaching hunting skills to the younger generation, "You got to have an eye for the game" and "You've got to be smarter than the game you hunt".  He enjoyed planting a garden and had a knack of "over planting" or planting more than we could pick.  He also enjoyed reading Louis L'Amour books.

His greatest love was his family and friends.  He is remembered by his wife, Alma Gay Tew; Son, Joe C. Tew (Renae); Two granddaughters, Alden Brooke Tew and Addison Leigh Tew; Sister in laws, Ouida Chancelor, Clovis Chancelor, Joyce Waters, Veda Massey (Dick), Gail Pritchett, Nora Martin and Virginia Martin; Brother in law, Billy Crocker; and by numerous nieces, nephews, Alabama cousins and fun loving friends.

He was preceded in death by his Daughter, Tara S. Tew; Parents, Sallie and Elmo Tew; Mother and Father in law, Alma and Cliff Martin; ; Sister, Shirly Crocker; and numerous sister and brother in laws.

Pallbearers will be Joey Crocker, Kenneth "Peanut" Chancelor, Tony Chancelor, Troy Smith, Junior Walker, and Randy Freeman.

Honorary pallbearers are Bennie Robinson, Carl Robinson, Donnie Boles, Steve Combest, Jimmy "Red" McCoy, Jimmy "Hammer" McCoy,

Services will be held Saturday, October 14, 2023 at 11 a.m., at Rolling Creek Baptist Church with Bro. Richard Coats, Bro. Billy Brumfield and Bro. Clay Chancelor officiating.  Visitation will be held on Friday, October 13, 2023 at Webb & Stephens Funeral Home North from 5 - 8 p.m. and Saturday at the church from 10 - 11 a.m.  Interment will be held in the church cemetery.