G.B. 'MAC' MCEWEN JR.

George Byard “Mac” McEwen Jr., 82, husband of Gloria W. Gardner McEwen, passed away peacefully on Aug. 19, 2024, at his home surrounded by his beloved family.

Mac was born on Dec. 18, 1941, in Sumter, where he lived most of his life, and he often would call it “the Garden Spot of the World.” He was a son of the late George Byard McEwen Sr. and Thelma DeWitt McEwen.

He attended the University of South Carolina, where he was a member of Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity. He remained a strong supporter of USC and especially Gamecock football. While in high school and college, he served as a lifeguard at the Sumter’s Elks Club, where he taught many young people to swim. He was the owner of McEwen Appraisal Company and was recently inducted into the Sumter Board of Realtors Hall of Fame. He was a past president of the Sumter Rotary Club and a Paul Harris Fellow. He was a past member of the Sumter City Council, one of the founding directors of the Santee Lynches Planning Council, past member of the City Zoning Board of Appeals, past director of S.C. Wildlife Federation, past president of Sumter Game & Fish Association, past president of Sumter Chapter of Red Cross, past president of Home Builders Association and recipient of the Sumter Distinguished Service Award. He was a member of Alice Drive Baptist Church, where he served as a deacon. He loved people and never met a stranger. One of his greatest loves was the conservation of wild turkeys.

He served on the state and local National Wildlife Turkey Federation Boards. The local Sumter chapter was named after him for his part in the reintroduction of the wild turkey in the Sumter area. He was known as a wonderful cook and loved to cook for the family and friends. For several years, he attended weekend cooking classes at Johnson and Wales Culinary College in Charleston. He will be remembered for his love of the Lord, his family and friends.

He was predeceased in death by his beloved son, George B. “Chip” McEwen III.

In addition to his wife, Gloria, he is survived by his brother, Howard DeWitt McEwen (Tappy); a daughter, Laura Fogarty (Tim); and stepchildren Eddie Wilder (Renee), Donna Boyle (Barnes), Lisa Ray and Kim Rodberg. He was known as Papa to Michael and Liz Anne Fogarty, Katie McEwen, Robert Wilder, Bradham Wilder, McCauley Jones, Ad Boyle, Austin Boyle, Davis Boyle, Evans Boyle, McCain Moore, Grayson Moore, Alex Rodberg, Olivia Rodberg and Mary Myers Rodberg.

A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. Wednesday, Aug. 21, 2024, in the Elmore-Cannon-Stephens Funeral Home Chapel officiated by the Rev. Dr. Clay Smith.

The family will receive friends from 10 to 11 a.m. Wednesday at Elmore-Cannon-Stephens Funeral Home.
The family would like to thank the “A team”: Charlene, Cherry, Willene, Stephanie, Sylvia and Niki, who loved him and took excellent care of him and also Caris Healthcare and Michelle with hospice.

Memorials may be made to The Mac McEwen Chapter of NWTF, 605 Antlers Drive, Sumter, SC 29150, or Alice Drive Baptist Church, 1305 Loring Mill Road, Sumter, SC 29150.

Elmore-Cannon-Stephens Funeral Home and Crematorium of Sumter is in charge of the arrangements.